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PETERBOROUGH and Lakeside have announced plans to meet in a home-and-away Challenge next month ahead of the new Elite League season.The sides will clash at the Showground on Thursday March 21, and the return fixture at Purfleet the following evening will also incorporate the Hammers Open Night with supporters gaining behind-the-scenes access between 6pm and 7pm.Panthers boss Jan Staechmann said: No doubt this will be a tough test for us because of the difference of track shape and size, but it is also the best way to shake off any winter cobwebs and get back into the swing of things before the league programme starts a week later on Good Friday.Lakeside promoter Jon Cook added: We will be incorporating the most popular features of the Open Night success of last season as well and hope the night will provide a firm foundation on which to build the season.

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KENT Kings have confirmed work on the new speedway track at Central Park Stadium is well underway and on target for the clubs first home meeting on May 6.In addition, the sound barrier wall is 25 per cent complete and security fencing is to be installed before a new vehicle entrance is cut through the high terracing, requiring the movement of around 500 tons of material.Co-promoter Len Silver said: The final parts of the turf were removed on Thursday and the initial base material will start to be imported during the next ten days, one week ahead of schedule. Shale will then be transported from the Midlands for installation in the middle of February to ensure that there is plenty of time for the track to settle and compact. During this time the work will also start on the safety fence which will be designed to collapse on impact to ensure that there is nothing that will cause serious injury to any rider.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8:CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Somerset 7.30