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SCUNTHORPE have handed their final team place to 17-year-old British prospect Josh Bates.The Scorpions were forced into a change due to the recent retirement of Gary Irving, and have moved for Bates who has impressed in the National League for Mildenhall and will continue for the Fen Tigers at that level.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: Hes got so much potential and weve watched him develop at the Eddie Wright Raceway over the last few years. Josh is young, keen and hes going to progress. Hes only been riding motorbikes for three years, and hes developed so quickly. His whole purpose in life is to ride a speedway bike.
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SHEFFIELD have announced plans to launch the Owlerton season with a visit from Elite League club Birmingham.The match will take place on Thursday March 28 with the Brummies including former Tigers No.1 Ricky Ashworth as a guest for the unavailable Chris Harris.Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart said: It should be a great opener. We've missed the Birmingham fans at Owlerton and are really looking forward to seeing the red and yellow on our terraces again.It does of course bring two former Tigers, Ashworth and (Josh) Auty, up against Simon Stead, who will be making his debut for us. Josh doesn't take any prisoners around Owlerton so it will be a baptism of fire for Simon.
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BUXTON have completed their team with the signing of 19-year-old Tom Woolley who has gained a National League place for the first time.Burton-based Woolley has an impressive motorcycling CV including three British Junior Grasstrack titles, and he now gets his opportunity with the Hitmen who have also confirmed their participation in the National Trophy competition this season.Promoter Jayne Moss said: We are pleased to welcome Tom on board for the coming season, he doesnt live very far away from Buxton and has had plenty of success on grass and in Shorttrack and is now looking to do well at speedway. Although we have a few newcomers in the team we also have three riders with a wealth of experience who are willing to share their knowledge and help the team progress.
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SOMERSET make their third attempt to stage their winter individual event at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday.The meeting, previously known as the Christmas Cracker, has twice been called-off due to poor weather, and the re-staging may give Rebels supporters the opportunity to welcome new signing Nick Morris who is now back in the UK.Promoter Debbie Hancock said: It seems almost unreal to think that Nick could have actually ridden in the meeting, that being thanks to the fact that we were forced to postpone the first two attempts to run the event, but to do that it meant that we would have needed to take out one of the existing riders who have agreed to ride on Friday night.LINE-UP: Ricky Ashworth, Ben Barker, Lewis Bridger, Kevin Doolan, Ryan Fisher, Richard Hall, Rusty Harrison, Ritchie Hawkins, David Howe, Lewis Kerr, Simon Lambert, Ashley Morris, Kyle Newman, Lewis Rose, Jacob Thorssell, Andrew Tully, Brendan Johnson (res).
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BIRMINGHAMS Danny King will boost the Elite League contingent in the Ben Fund Bonanza at Berwick on Saturday March 9.King will be making his third appearance in the event, having previously appeared at Rye House and last year on his home track at Perry Barr.He said: It should be good, I did it last year and its good to help the fund. Touch wood Ive never had to call on the fund but you never know, one day I might rely on it.I should have won the meeting at Berwick last year in the Grand Prix qualifiers in the tricky conditions. I like the track there, its a big track and its fast and that suits me really.
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RYE House and Kent have both confirmed they will stage meetings involving the touring USA team in early May.The Americans will visit Hoddesdon on May 4 for a handicap-based individual event with a format based on racing programmes in California and will compete in a team meeting at Kent on May 6 in the opener for the Kings at Central Park Stadium.Len Silver, promoter at both venues, said: I was persuaded to do (the handicap meeting) by the American team manager Steve Evans, who believes that it is a formula for success in UK just as it is in California. Well, now well have the chance to see for ourselves and I am anticipating a good audience to enjoy it.We have been negotiating with the Americans for several weeks and I am over the moon that confirmation arrived. We will get the full make-up of the Dream Team in a few days and will make that news public as soon as we get it.(FIXTURE)
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8:WINTER CRACKER: Somerset 7.30
