(SPEEDWAY 1)

BEN Barker is relishing the prospect of a busy 2012 after completing deals to race in both Elite and Premier Leagues next season.Barker will stay with both Birmingham and Plymouth, doubling-up for the top-flight Brummies where he is expected to be available for all meetings.He said: “I’m not lacking ambition by riding in the Premier League, I just want to ride my bike, it’s as simple as that and I love to be busy.“I want to go as far as I can in the sport and confidence is a major part in that so if I can turn up and win races for Plymouth than can only help me with Birmingham. That’s what happened last season, anyway.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

BERWICK boss Ian Rae has admitted that Josef Franc’s commitments on the continent were a factor in his switch to Sheffield this winter.Franc has spent five seasons with the Bandits across four spells, but was made available for loan along with fellow asset Jade Mudgway, who has joined Glasgow.Rae said: “Both riders have served us exceedingly well, and had circumstances been different Pepe especially would have been a welcome returnee – but his lucrative weekend long-tracking commitments are such that we cannot allow him to miss as many of our Saturday-night matches as was the case last year.“But it must be said that he goes on loan to Sheffield – who race the majority of their fixtures midweek – with our fullest blessing and very best wishes. He has always been a stalwart servant to Berwick, and will no doubt be a thorn in our side when he returns with his new team.”