(SPEEDWAY 1)SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin believes new captain Richard Hall's own form will benefit from the role this season.Hall has taken over as skipper on his return to Owlerton after spending last year on loan at Leicester and then Scunthorpe.Machin said: "It could be a very good year for Richard. We feel that his new role will help raise his own game and he can go on to become one of the stand-out riders in the Premier League."He's also won the Elite League with Peterborough and is a very determined character. He is willing and prepared to work with the club management in the best interests of Sheffield Speedway and we feel it's a good move all round."

(SPEEDWAY 2)REDCAR skipper Gary Havelock says he is driven on by the desire to lead his hometown club to a major trophy.Havelock, 43, is going into his 28th season in the sport and wants to add to the Bears' Young Shield victory back in 2007.He said: "Redcar are my local team and it would just about be the icing on the cake if I could lead my hometown club to winning something big. It would be really nice to win one of the major trophies."Ulrich (Ostergaard) comes in as the No.1 so it will be difficult for him to up his average, but everyone else in the team has massive potential to improve. It drives me on without a doubt, and I think I can push my average up again."