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WOLVERHAMPTON have agreed dates with Poole for the first official competition of next season – as the two sides meet in the Elite Shield.Current holders Wolves will face the Elite League Champions at Monmore Green on March 19, with the Dorset return 48-hours later. And Wolves will also be taking part in a three-team Midland League involving local rivals Birmingham and Coventry before the Elite League gets underway.Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “I’m sure the fans will agree we have a great start to the season against Poole, Birmingham and Coventry. We are now in the process of deciding on the seven riders we want to be in the team.”
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EASTBOURNE are awaiting final details for next year’s inaugural FIM Speedway Club Championship.As Elite League runners-up the Eagles, along with champions Poole, are eligible for entry and the club intend to take their place, although it has meant they have withdrawn from the domestic Knockout Cup.Co-promoter Mike Bellerby said: “We are certain our fans will take to this new competition and enjoy seeing their team taking on top teams from Europe. It is fantastic that we can be in at the start of this new competition and is a great reward for our efforts in last season’s league.“Our need to run on Saturdays is well documented. When we looked at next year’s calendar of Grand Prix and other international events, we realised that we would not be able to compete in the KO Cup.”
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DUDLEY chairman Nigel Pearson was a proud man after the Heathens were awarded the staging of the 2012 British Under-21 Final.The former Cradley club, still searching for a new stadium, will stage the meeting at their adopted Monmore Green home with the date to be confirmed after discussions with the stadium owners.Pearson said: “We are naturally thrilled with this news. The main reason behind us getting this national event is the level of support enjoyed by the club.“It is also recognition of the thoroughly professional way we try and do things, the way we promote the club throughout the area and continue to spread the good news message.”
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POOLE promoter Matt Ford is pleased with an early chance of revenge against Wolverhampton in 2012 – as the Pirates bid for the item of silverware which eluded them last season.The two clubs will meet in the Elite Shield, Poole having taken the League and Cup double but with Wolves as Shield holders after a 98-90 aggregate win.Ford said: “It will be good to open the season with a chance of claiming a trophy immediately, we have become quite used to winning silverware and it’s a great feeling. Wolverhampton denied us the clean sweep of team trophies last year, so we will be determined to make amends next March.“Meanwhile it’s heads down and going about the task of trying to assemble the best possible side as I really want to keep the success train rolling on here at Wimborne Road.”
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WORKINGTON have announced 17-year-old Mancunian Kyle Howarth as the first name on their 2012 team-sheet.Howarth, rated as one of GB’s best rising prospects, is currently spending a second winter in Australia gaining further racing experience, and last Sunday he won the Queensland Under-21 Championship.He joined Edinburgh early last season and achieved a creditable 4.32 Premier League average, as well as topping the averages for Belle Vue in the National League.Comets chief Keith Denham said: “Kyle is really excited about joining the Comets, he really enjoys riding the big Workington track and we look forward to seeing him progress in Comets colours next season.”
