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AUSTRALIAN star Darcy Ward will be back to lead Poole’s top-flight title defence next season.The 21-year-old, who is widely regarded as a future World Champion, returned from injury this year to play a pivotal role in the Pirates’ remarkable charge to Elite League honours – taking over the captaincy after fellow countryman Chris Holder was ruled out.Promoter Matt Ford said: “We were fortunate to have the incredible leadership of Chris Holder before his injury in July and the backing of Greg Hancock coming in after Chris’s injury. But through it all, when Darcy came back from a very complicated shoulder break in July he was outstanding.“I can reveal to fans that it took less a minute to sort out a contract for next season. It was abundantly clear that Darcy’s priority is that he wanted to stay at Poole – and we very much wanted him to lead the team.”
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BELLE Vue favourite Matej Zagar has given Aces fans a huge boost by committing to the club for 2014.Zagar’s return to British racing with the Manchester club this year was a successful one as he proved to be an out-and-out No.1, with the Slovenian also enjoying a fine campaign on the International stage.He said: “My plans for next year always involved a return to Belle Vue; I knew if I was going to be in England again it’s exactly where I wanted to be.“Looking back on last season, riding for the Aces helped me in so many ways. It was a good move at the right time and I had a great year with the club so I saw no reason not to continue with them.”
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SWINDON have named rising Australian youngster Nick Morris as the first confirmed member of their top five for 2014.Morris will be going into his third season with the Robins and joins reserve signings Steve Worrall and Josh Bates at the Blunsdon club.Manager Alun Rossiter said: “Nick is a real battler and there’s more to come from him. He’s a good rider who will do very well in the 2014 league.“When the new points limit was agreed I immediately identified Nick as a key rider to sign and I’m pleased to get him sorted.”
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AMERICAN youngster Gino Manzares will make his league racing debut in Great Britain next year with Ipswich.Manzares joins a Witches side which will have Adam Ellis, Cameron Heeps, Morten Risager, Ritchie Hawkins and Rohan Tungate returning from 2013, with Richie Worrall the other newcomer.Co-promoter Chris Louis said: “It’s been some years now since the flamboyant days of our American duo of Dennis Sigalos and John Cook in the eighties but I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to be welcoming Gino in to the side. “I have remained in contact with Gino’s team since his Foxhall debut back in May at the Star of Anglia when his smooth style and articulate manner really impressed me.”
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LOCAL hero Simon Stead will be back with Sheffield in 2014 following his recovery from a broken leg.Stead has elected to remain with the Tigers, who will be under new ownership with outgoing owner Neil Machin having given club officials the green light to sign riders to hand over to his successor.Stead said: “It’s nice to know I’m going to be a part of it and, to be fair, Sheffield have also said to me they want to be captain and they also want me to give them my opinion on riders we could sign.“I met David Hoggart (co-promoter) on Sunday night and we agreed everything. I think they have realised they cannot hang around forever and then just pick up riders who haven’t been fixed up anywhere.”
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REVITALISED David Howe will return to Scunthorpe in 2014 after taking time out of the sport following a series of injuries.Howe, the Scorpions’ all-time top points scorer, returns on what the club view as a bargain 6.34 average for what will be his sixth season with the club.Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Once I knew David was fit and well, it was a no-brainer to bring him back. He’s suffered a couple of torrid year with injuries, but he now seems as keen as he’s ever been. He’s not an old man by any means; he’s still got potentially around 10 years left in him as a speedway rider.“I consider David to be on a gift average. He’s only on 6.34 because he had injuries, which took a toll on both his mind and body. I see a fully-charged David as another contender for the No.1 spot at the Eddie Wright Raceway.”
