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LAKESIDE have completed their 2014 team by agreeing deals to bring heat-leader duo Peter Karlsson and Davey Watt back to the Arena-Essex Raceway.Both rides will be going into their third seasons with the club and they join fellow top-five members Lewis Bridger, Mikkel Bech and Richard Lawson, and reserves Adam Ellis and Ben Morley in the Hammers’ septet.Co-promoter Jon Cook said: “PK and Watty have made it clear they wanted to remain Hammers, and with the League a very different set-up to last year we felt it crucial to have recognised heat-leaders at the top of the team with the experience needed not only to score points regularly but to bring the best out of the youngsters in the side. “That’s clearly a forte of both and we feel we have an excellent mix for 2014. I would like to place of record my thanks to Piotr Swiderski, who we have had to leave out with the change in team criteria. Piotr is a first class chap and it was a difficult call to make to him.”
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TROY Batchelor is a confirmed starter for Swindon in 2014 as the Robins look to reach the play-offs for a third successive season.The Australian star was part of the Blunsdon club’s title-winning team of 2012 and he joins Nick Morris, Steve Worrall and Josh Bates as riders named so far for next year.Manager Alun Rossiter said: “Batch is delighted to be back and we’re pleased he’s coming back. We know what a quality rider he is and I believe there is plenty more to come from him. He’s also a great character to have around the pits and he’s good at encouraging the other guys in the team, he will relish that prospect.“I’m really pleased about the way the team is coming together. Batch can lead from the front and I believe he will prove extremely hard to beat around Swindon.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
PREMIER League Champions Somerset have named their team for next year’s title defence, with three riders returning to the Oaktree Arena.Skipper Jason Doyle, Nick Morris and Charles Wright will all be back with the Rebels in 2014 and they are joined by reigning Premier League Riders’ Champion Olly Allen, Paul Starke and the Kurtz brothers, Todd and Brady.Manager Garry May said: “Olly has an excellent pedigree and to have a rider of his abilities as your number 3 in the averages will ensure we have a potent spearhead to the side, while Todd (Kurtz) has always ridden Somerset well and I think 2014 will see him come on further as a rider.“At reserve we have a real potential talent in Brady Kurtz, though in saying that it may take him a while to get use to the rigours of riding in the UK, but having his brother in the team as well will be of big benefit to him, while Paul Starke showed when he guested for us last year that he can ride the Oaktree Arena, and with almost a full year of Premier League racing under him he has the opportunity now to build on that and really establish himself at this level.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
BERWICK have named popular Frenchman David Bellego as the first confirmed starter for their 2014 team.20-year-old Bellego will be back for a third season in Bandits colours, with the club also confirming the reason for the departure of reserve Paul Starke to Somerset was his need for a southern base given his top-flight commitments with Birmingham.Berwick director George Hepburn said: “David is an obvious choice for the engine room of our team, he has lifted his average each year he has been here, and can only develop further.“This signing was, to be honest, a no-brainer. David is also a Berwick asset and hopefully this coming season will get the chance of a double-up spot in the Elite League.”
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COVENTRY have added Oliver Greenwood to their asset base in a full transfer from Scunthorpe.Greenwood rode for the club at National League level last season and also gained several Premier League guest outings in the second half of the season after recovering from a broken wrist.Promoter Mick Horton said: “We’re really pleased to complete this deal, and once again it’s another promising young rider for the future that we’ve added to the club’s asset base.“I would like to thank Rob Godfrey at Scunthorpe for his co-operation in our talks, and the deal was finalised on Wednesday evening. We look forward to having Oliver back with the Storm in 2014 and it’s more positive news to have him on board with the club.”
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REDCAR have confirmed a major double signing for the 2014 season with Richard Lawson and Kozza Smith both joining the Bears.The arrivals of Lawson, from Workington, and Smith who was with Berwick this year, mean the Teesside club will have a vastly different look to the heat-leader department next season.Promoter Brian Havelock said: “It’s great to have these two lads on board for next season. Couple them with Aaron Summers and I feel we have a great spearhead for our team.”
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JUSTIN Sedgmen will make his return to British racing next season with Edinburgh.The Swindon asset sat out the 2013 campaign but has plenty of experience in the UK after Premier League spells with Somerset, Birmingham, Plymouth and Redcar, as well as top-flight outings for Lakeside.Sedgmen said: “Obviously I’m really happy to get back into a good team for next season. I’ve worked pretty hard to get it, so when Edinburgh came asking I jumped at the opportunity. I want to knuckle down and get into it.“I think I’ve been to Armadale three or four times, the first time being my first year in England. I really do like the track, firstly the shape and also that it is always well prepared. It’s one of the clubs I most wanted to join.”
