Nicki Pedersen - Last year's champion

Our predictions for the 2008 GP series:

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Our guide to the riders in the 2008 speedway Grand Prix series.

We preview every rider and give our own opinion of how we think this year's World Championship might turn out. And you can have your say by filling out the form at the bottom - so please let us know your views.

1 - Nicki Pedersen (Denmark)

World number one and current world champion, Nicki Pedersen is the man to beat this year.

Pedersen swept to the title last season with four individual GP wins and a further four final appearances.

Pedersen is not due to ride in England this year mainly because of the shift in the points limit in the Elite League and that could hamper his efforts for a third world title.

Predicted finish: 3rd

Skysports.com verdict: Will no doubt be up there and will be in the top three no matter what.

2 - Leigh Adams (Australia)

Always the bridesmaid is the tag Leigh Adams is looking to shrug off this year.

The Swindon star is undoubtedly one of the finest riders never to lift the world crown but there is no reason he cannot break that hoodoo this time around.

Three individual GP wins last year showed just how good his form was as he claimed second place on 2007.

Predicted finish: 1st

Skysports.com verdict: We think this could very well be the year for Adams but he will need to repeat last year's form and then some on top of that.

3 - Jason Crump (Australia)

The most complete rider in the world at the moment and the two-time champion and four-time runner-up will be looking to move back to the summit of the sport.

Crump is the most successful rider still on a bike at the moment, but he is showing no signs of giving up and the way he has started the new season is a sure sign he is more than capable of recapturing his third world title.

Predicted finish: 2rd

Skysports.com verdict: To be honest we think you will be able to throw a blanket over the first three and although Adams is very much a choice made with our heart the head keeps saying Crump!

4 - Tomasz Gollob (Poland)

One of the enigmas of world speedway, four times on the podium at the end - and one of the most talented riders ever.

Has led the revival of Polish speedway which now sees the country's league as the strongest in the world.

Gollob would be a fitting world champion and last season's fourth shows he can still mix it but the title he deserves would seemingly be just beyond his grasp now.

Predicted finish: 7th

Skysports.com verdict: The fact we have two Polish venues this year is sure to boost his chances but it will surely be too much to ask for him to challenge the big three.

5 - Hans Andersen (Denmark)

At 27, Andersen is coming to his peak and should be pushing on but question marks have to be asked about his credentials for victory.

Last year Andersen failed to win a GP and the undoubted potential of 2006 just was not fulfilled.

But he is as hard as nails and has all the ingredients to make it to the top and could be the dark horse this time around.

Predicted finish: 4th

Skysports.com verdict: We are going to give Hans the benefit of the doubt about last season and think he could really be a major threat this season.

6 - Greg Hancock (USA)

What can be said about the 1997 world champion. He is a wonderful ambassador for the sport and with few up and coming Americans, his presence even at 37 is still vital for the GPs.

But he is not just getting a sympathy vote - he is proving that he is still as fast as anyone on his day although the fact he didn't win a GP last year may be a worry.

Predicted finish: 9th

Skysports.com verdict: Will be a threat at all circuits having won GPs at seven different venues but probably just too far off the pace to challenge for a second world crown.

7 - Rune Holta (Poland)

The Norwegian-born Pole got better and better last year throughout the GP series.

Has never ridden in Britain - the only performer in the GPs this year never to have done so - and so he is always a bit of a unknown quantity.

But to perform as he does on a regular basis in Poland means he cannot be underestimated.

Predicted finish: 12th

Skysports.com verdict: Not the most fashionable of riders and his place in the GPs will be under threat unless he can pick up an all important top-eight finish - which will not be easy.

8 - Scott Nicholls (Great Britain)

Although now British number two, Nicholls still looks the biggest threat these shores have to offer.

His maiden GP victory still alludes him and the fact Chris Harris managed it last year is sure to sit heavily on his shoulders.

He needs to start turning his final appearances into wins and quick. His early season form has been very encouraging.

Predicted finish: 8th

Skysports.com verdict: Nicholls has always looked at home on the GP circuit but he needs to start really pushing the big boys this term and he is capable of doing it.

9 - Chris Harris (Great Britain)

Many people doubted Harris's shock elevation into the GP series last season but he proved all his critics wrong with victory at Cardiff in the British Grand Prix.

He also managed a third place in Poland to prove he was more than capable of standing wheel-to-wheel with the world's best.

One major concern is his form so far this year but the hope is he is saving himself for the GP series - could be a big year for the British number one.

Predicted finish: 10th

Skysports.com verdict: Harris adapted so well to the GPs last season that expectation level could be too much for him but he took it all on last term and could again shock a few people this time around.

10 - Andreas Jonsson (Sweden)

Jonsson's two GP wins last season showed what a danger he can be and is surely, barring injury, going to prove a real threat this time around.

The Lakeside Hammers number one has already suffered an injury this year but if he can put that behind him then he has the speed to match anyone.

Along with Hans Andersen could be the dark horse this time around

Predicted finish: 5th

Skysports.com verdict: Jonsson showed in the final GP of last season how good he can be on the big occasions - we think he will turn a few heads again this year.

11 - Bjarne Pedersen (Denmark)

Another who has huge potential - Pedersen last won a GP in 2004 when many viewed him a potential world champion.

And although the Poole number one has always been one of the best in the Elite League he has never shown that on the biggest stage of all.

Predicted finish: 9th

Skysports.com verdict: Will be there and thereabouts at most tracks but unlikely to challenge for the big honours.

12 - Niels Kristian Iversen (Denmark)

Interesting addition to the GP series this year and will provide entertainment at the very least.

At 25 is one of the youngest in the GP and he will benefit hugely from being a permanent member of the competition, but he will look to avoid being dropped as he was at the end of the 2006 campaign - his first on the GP circuit.

Predicted finish: 11th

Skysports.com verdict: Iversen's target will be to stay involved in 2009 and beyond as he could easily become a major force on the world circuit and he should be near the top eight.

13 - Lukas Dryml Czech Republic)

Earned his spot through the qualification process and Dryml is more than capable of performing at the top level.

Amazingly still only 27, Lukas has already been a permanent member of the speedway GPs in 2002 and 2003.

Predicted finish: 14th

Skysports.com verdict: Could provide a few shocks but just being in this year's series will be a huge benefit to the Czech star.

14 - Krzysztof Kasprzak (Poland)

The exciting young Pole was one of the two permanent wild cards handed out in 2008.

Another who will benefit from the two Polish GPs and he will be a huge threat at both - indeed his second place as a wild card at Bydgoszcz in 2007 played a big part in his place in this year's GPs.

Predicted finish: 13th

Skysports.com verdict: Will be a really interesting to see Kasprzak on the big stage and although we cannot see him gaining a top-eight finish it would not be a major surprise to see him challenging.

15 - Frederik Lindgren (Sweden)

A bit of a shock to see Freddie Lindgren included but the 22-year-old is capable of performing at this level.

Lindgren took third spot at the Swedish GP last year which showed he has the speed and now he has to show he can live up to his promise.

One negative has been his early season form at Wolves as he has looked far from his best and is averaging less in a what is a watered-down league.

Predicted finish: 15th

Skysports.com verdict: Will be another to benefit from this experience but it surely is a step too far, too soon for the youngster.