SWINDON are offering a hand of friendship to distraught Newport fans who have been deprived of seeing their team race in 2012.Kind-hearted Robins bosses are to offer Welsh fans reduced race-night admission to visit the Abbey Stadium after the Wasps confirmed their withdrawal from the Premier League, and are also offering discounted season tickets.Swindon co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “As one of their nearest speedway neighbours I believe we have a responsibility to assist where we can, and if this gesture helps maintain the interest of Newport supporters in the sport, so that a future promotion may benefit in the long term, then it will have been worthwhile.“We appreciate that the travelling costs are always increasing, and by offering the season tickets at a discounted rate we are taking that into account.”

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LAKESIDE manager Neil Vatcher says he is happy to go straight into Elite League action with the Hammers’ home clash with Belle Vue on March 30.The Purfleet club plan to stage an ‘open night’ the previous Friday but are unlikely to compete in any challenge fixtures – but Vatcher says their riders will still be fully prepared.He said: “Our top three boys have got a number of open meetings before we start our league season and some of the others have meetings as part of their doubling-up roles, so the majority of the team will be getting plenty of laps in before that meeting with Belle Vue.“We’ll also have our track available for plenty of practice in the days leading up to that meeting just to ensure that we are fully ready and prepared as a team.”