PETE Toogood has stood down as chairman of the British Speedway Promoters' Association - and there's a new-look to the sport's management committee.

Toogood attended the opening day of the sport's AGM in Bournemouth to oversee 2009 business and to see his successor appointed.

Edinburgh's Alex Harkess has been voted in by fellow members to succeed Toogood - and he's joined on the top table by Poole's Matt Ford as vice-chairman with Lakeside's Jon Cook, Jonathan Chapman of King's Lynn and Sheffield's Neil Machin the other committee members.

Outgoing chairman Toogood said: "I would like to take this opportunity to wish Alex and his colleagues all the very best and hope they oversee a very successful time for our wonderful sport.

"It's a sad day for me in many ways, but I feel this move is the right thing to do with my increasing business commitments. I am sure our sport has an exciting future."

Birmingham's Tony Mole has been appointed president of the association after the resignation of Terry Russell.Reserve management committee members are Colin Pratt of Coventry for the Elite League and Newcastle's George English at Premier League level.

Speedway News

(SPEEDWAY 1)PREMIER League Riders' champion Ricky Ashworth has agreed a new deal with Sheffield.The popular Mancunian is likely to captain the side for a second successive season.He said: "Naturally winning the Premier League Riders' title was the highlight of my career in September - but now I want to be captain of a Sheffield team which wins something. Bring on next year, I'm really looking forward to the challenge."(SPEEDWAY 2)RITCHIE Hawkins is on his way back to Somerset after two-years away from the club.Hawkins, who won the Premier League Fours title with the club in 2005, had spells with Sheffield and Scunthorpe last season.He said: "I enjoyed my stint with Scunthorpe, but the lure of Somerset was too strong, it'll be just like coming home for me. I'm really pleased to be going back there."