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REIGNING British Champion Scott Nicholls will remain with Coventry next seasonand is also taking over the Bees captaincy.Nicholls, who secured a record-breaking seventh national title at Wolverhampton in July, led the Brandon club to a clean sweep of major trophies when he was previously skipper back in 2007.Bees promoter Mick Horton said: I'm absolutely delighted to have Scott back with us. To my mind he's the best captain in the Elite League and it's good to have him in that position.He was consistent this year, it was a shame about his injury but the really encouraging thing is that towards the end of the season he was as quick as anybody.
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SWINDON have taken another major step forward with team planning for the defence of their Elite League title by snapping up talented youngster Nick Morris.And the Robins have splashed the cash to make Morris a full asset after agreeing a deal with former Glasgow promoter Stewart Dickson. He is also expected to double-up with a Premier League club.Blunsdon boss Alun Rossiter said: This is great news for the club and Nick told us he wanted to stay before he went back to Australia.We are delighted to welcome him back in 2013 as a fully fledged Swindon asset and he is part of the future of this club.
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WOLVERHAMPTON will race into the 2013 Elite League season with the continued backing of main team sponsors Parrys International.The team will once again be known as Parrys International Wolves after the Cheslyn Hay-based international coach tour operator agreed to stay on board for a staggering 13th seasonon a performance-related deal following this years low finish.Former rider and manager Dave Parry said: As main team sponsor we were disappointed, a lack of success on track meant we didn't figure in the headlines and on Sky TV as we would have liked.That needs to be put right and the incentive is there for the club to reach the play-offs in 2013.
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OLIVER Greenwood is switching from Scunthorpe to Coventry for the 2013 National League season.The Saints are not running in the third tier next year but Greenwood has quickly been fixed up at Brandon, with Coventry set to enter the NL for the first time.Co-boss Laurence Rogers said: Oliver is a young rider on the way up, he went from a 3.00 average to 6.57 last season with Scunthorpe, and also finished second in the Midland Development League Riders Final.Hes a good lad, and he wanted to come to Coventry. Mick (Horton) and Rob Godfrey did a deal at the AGM which sees Oliver become a Coventry asset, and thats the first one of hopefully seven.
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LEICESTER will have two new faces in their team next season having agreed deals to sign Kevin Doolan and Adam Roynon.The Lions, who reached the Premier League play-offs in 2012, have re-called captain Kauko Nieminen, Lasse Bjerre, Jan Graversen and Lewis Blackbird from that line-up whilst Simon Nielsen also returns after missing the second half of the season due to injury.Manager Glyn Taylor said: Since finding out a week ago that we are to spend another year in the Premier League it has been a non-stop round of talks with riders about racing for Leicester in 2013. I am pleased to say that I can now relax as all seven have confirmed their commitment to riding for the club. I believe that we have a very competitive side to challenge for honours and I am looking forward to working with each and every one of them. I would like to officially welcome Kevin and Adam to the club and thank the outgoing team members for helping to get us into the play-offs last season.
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SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter has confirmed the club have released 2012 Elite League-winning team member Simon Stead.Rossiter and co-promoter Gary Patchett have worked though numerous permutations as they look to make a strong title defence next year, and Steads departure is one of the toughest decisions they have taken.Rossiter said: Its never nice to tell a rider hes not required for next year, especially one who has been loyal to the club as Simon has been, but we have decided to go in a different direction with our team-building.I would like to thank him for his services to Swindon over the last four years, and we hope hell get fixed up elsewhere quickly.(SPEEDWAY 7)
DUDLEY have named Ashley Morris as their new No.1 and captainwith Dan Greenwood also retained from 2012 in a new-look Heathens team.The club have made Tom Perry and Darryl Ritchings available to other clubs as they have to make changes to comply with the National League points limit.Chairman Nigel Pearson said: This has been the hardest decision imaginable for myself, Chris (Van Straaten) and Gary (Patchett) to take, but we all feel that to include both Ash and Tom would leave us just too top-heavy.Ashley made good, steady progress again this year, his average certainly suits us better and hes also hugely popular so were delighted to have the opportunity of working with him for a fourth season.
