NEWPORT have had their Queensway Meadows circuit re-laid in preparation for the New Year Classic on January 2.The event is being staged on a Monday for the first time in its history as the date is a public bank holiday, with a lunchtime start-time of 1pm to assist travelling fans.

Wasps co-promoter Nick Mallett said: “The track staff have worked so hard relaying the track with tons and tons of new dirt down and packed in and it should produce some great racing.

“We have former Classic champions, winners of the Welsh Open and Prince of Wales Trophy, a whole host of club No.1 riders, an exciting newcomer and home favourite Anders Mellgren. All very mouth-watering for speedway fans starved of their favourite sport since October.”

PETERBOROUGH co-boss Jan Staechmann is backing Rene Bach to bounce back from an injury-ravaged 2011.

The Dane missed a large part of this year after breaking a leg whilst riding for Newcastle in April, and although he returned briefly in August he suffered a further setback with the injury and had to sit out the remaining weeks of the season.

Staechmann said: “I’m pleased that we’ve got Rene back with us again as I feel he is really going to go places in the sport.  A lot of people have written him off, but I think that is wrong because a rider like that will always bounce back after an injury as he is so hungry to succeed.

“He’ll naturally need time to find his feet again, but after the winter break he’ll start on equal terms with everyone else and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

FORTHCOMING FIXTURE:

MONDAY JANUARY 2:NEW YEAR CLASSIC: Newport 1pm