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POOLE have added Ludvig Lindgren to the squad for their Elite League title defence with the Swede sharing a doubling-up berth with Sam Masters.Pirates chief Matt Ford has confirmed Masters is the senior choice for a team place, but Lindgren will receive plenty of opportunities due to Premier League fixture clashes.Ford said: “In bringing in Ludvig I feel certain that we will continue to have the same balance about the side, and it is likely that I will be using Ludvig at least a dozen times this season.“I was impressed with him when he rode here on June 8th last year and whilst he only scored two points on that night he was certainly riding above that level, and he was unfortunate to be written out of the meeting when he was involved in an ugly-looking crash in Heat 10.”

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CRAIG Cook has now been confirmed as Edinburgh’s final signing for the 2012 Premier League season.Cook’s agreement with the Monarchs was delayed due to family illness, but he was the only rider in the frame and the deal is now complete for him to spend a second term at Armadale.Promoter John Campbell said: “His good meetings last year were outstanding but he had a few poor ones that brought him down a little. We’re all going to work hard on making sure those are not on the agenda in 2012. “He’s got huge potential and will be pushing Andrew (Tully) hard for the No.1 slot. That will be difficult as Andrew is determined to hang onto it.”

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SHEFFIELD have named Richard Hall as their new club captain for the 2012 campaign.Hall is returning to Owlerton after spending last season out on loan at Leicester and Scunthorpe, and will lead a revamped Tigers team.Co-promoter David Hoggart said: “Richard deserves this opportunity, both Neil Machin and myself talked it through and we both agreed he is the man for the job. He is the kind of rider who will always give you maximum effort and he will do that for us both on and off the track, so we’re delighted he has accepted this opportunity.“We have had some fine captains down the years and it is an important job but we feel Richard is well capable of taking on the challenge.”

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REDCAR have announced a tie-up with Practical Car and Van Hire which sees the company become team co-sponsors of the Bears.The company, who have branches in Redcar on Teesside plus Durham and Peterlee, join existing team sponsors Simpson Racing UK in a five-figure package.Practical boss Darren Lee said: “The company have been an individual sponsor of Bears club captain Gary Havelock in recent seasons plus a programme advertiser. With the improved facilities at the speedway arena we have taken the opportunity to step up to team sponsorship and entertain our clients to an exciting night out in style. “The Bears are a high-profile sports team in the North East and that matches our ambition as we open a new branch at Peterlee in County Durham.”