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SIMON Stead is on his way back to Swindon for the 2012 season – less than a fortnight after it looked like he would be frozen out!The Great Britain international, 29, is a firm favourite on the Blunsdon terraces and joins Hans Andersen, Troy Batchelor and Peter Kildemand in the 2012 Robins side.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Simon was told we couldn’t guarantee him a place in the team a fortnight ago and to be fair to the lad he was gutted.“Our team building took an unexpected but pleasant twist when Troy Batchelor became available and this allowed us to bring Simon back into the equation. We’re really pleased.”
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BIRMINGHAM’S Rider of the Year Ben Barker will be back with the Perry Barr club in the Elite League next season.Barker’s immediate future had been the cause of intense speculation because of a potential clash of fixtures with his Premier League club Plymouth - but Selco Brummies boss Graham Drury has worked with the sport’s fixture compilers to ensure Barker will be available for all meetings.Said Drury: “I’m very pleased to have Ben on board, he has plenty of ambition and is a firm favourite with the crowd at Perry Barr.“I would like to thank Jon Cook and John Campbell who are the fixture compilers, I gave them early notice of Ben’s potential fixture clashes and as things stand he will be available for us in all our meetings.”
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JOSH Grajczonek will return to Glasgow next season as the Premier League Champions close in on completing the line-up for their title defence.Grajczonek’s season came to an end with a broken thigh at Plymouth, meaning he missed the second half of the campaign, but he is now on the comeback trail and recently won the Queensland State title.Co-promoter Alan Dick said: “It would appear that he has recovered totally from his injury as recent results have proved, and if that is the case then it will be on a personal level a great battle between Josh and Joe Screen to see who finishes the season as No.1 – in fact, I expect Josh to be one of the big hitters in the league this coming year. “From a team perspective it gives us plenty at the top end, our middle is going to be the key area of the side with the two new Aussies, and that just leaves us with a reserve pair to sort out, and it is likely we will have to do that in a pairing.”
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LEICESTER are now one rider away from finalising their team for next season having announced the signing of Simon Lambert.The former Sheffield man was a high scorer in his visits to Beaumont Park in 2011 and now joins a much-changed Lions line-up as the club look to move up the Premier League table.Team boss Jason Attwood said: “Simon contacted me at the weekend and was keen to come to Leicester. I was impressed by him last season at Sheffield and how he improved his average by over two points. “Simon will come into the team as a second string and his approach is that he's not coming just to make up the numbers. I'm delighted to have an up and coming English rider in the team for 2012 and feel sure the fans will get behind him.”
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STOKE have named Ben Reade as their third confirmed signing for next season.Reade was a regular as the Potters enjoyed a strong National League campaign in 2011, quickly regaining his place in the side after briefly being released.Manager Malcolm Vasey said: “Ben never really considered going anywhere else as long as he was wanted by us here at Stoke, and we do. He made great strides last season and had a superb end to the year.“After being dropped he had the right attitude and came back stronger, and I am sure Ben has a very long future in the sport. We are delighted to welcome him back for a second season and I’m sure he will improve on his average.
