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PETERBOROUGH have made Lewis Blackbird their fourth confirmed signing for the 2014 Premier League season.The 26-year-old locally-based rider will be following in the family tradition as his uncles Mark and Paul both rode for the club, and his father Carl also competed in the sport.Blackbird said: “I’ve turned down a few other clubs because I had my heart set on coming to Peterborough, so it is great that everything has worked out.“Being in the main body of a Premier League side is a new thing for me, but I’m confident I can handle it.”
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STOKE have handed Ben Wilson a return to the sport as No.1 for the Potters next season.Wilson, who rode in the Elite League for Poole in 2009, had a spell with the Potters late in the 2010 campaign but has been out of racing since lining up for Scunthorpe two years ago, and will now make his comeback at National League level.Stoke promoter Dave Tattum said: “I am absolutely over the moon with this signing. Ben Wilson will be a class act for the Potters and I hope this will restore our supporters' faith after the disappointments of 2013. “It’s a nice Christmas present for our supporters that Ben is returning to the sport, and after discussions with the BSPA through Peter Morrish it was nice to tie the matter up with Ben before Christmas.”
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SCUNTHORPE skipper Ashley Birks will make his comeback from serious injury with the Scorpions next season.Birks suffered a broken back in an Individual event at Plymouth in September but will be fit for the 2014 campaign and has now been confirmed in the team at the Eddie Wright Raceway, with National League graduate Matt Williamson taking the No.7 spot to complete the side.Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I was totally wrong with what I said at the time regarding Ash. I said Ash definitely would not be back for the start of the 2014 season, but he is going to be ready. I’m delighted to be proven wrong.“Matt is another one with a fantastic motocross pedigree. We’ve signed him as a full asset. He’s another Richie Worrall really, although his motocross pedigree is better than Worrall’s. From the very beginning, we saw a future in him and now he’s come back to us to say he wants to do it, so I’m very happy with that.”
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COVENTRY are preparing to host winter racing with the Christmas Cracker taking place at Brandon this Sunday at midday.The 21-heat programme includes an individual event featuring the likes of Josh Auty, Aaron Summers, Stuart Robson and Richard Lawson, whilst a six-race Midland Development League support feature includes a number of National League regulars.Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “I hope everyone has a really good Christmas, and by Sunday most people, like me, will probably be bored, full up and had enough of it, and then it’s time to get back into speedway!“I was delighted to add this meeting to our schedule and hopefully it will give everyone a really good day out. It’s our first-ever Christmas Cracker and I hope everyone enjoys it.”
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SUNDAY DECEMBER 29:CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Coventry 12pm
