(SPEEDWAY 1)
KING’S Lynn have named an unchanged top five for the 2015 Elite League season as they bid to build on a successful campaign where they just missed out on reaching the Grand Final.Niels-Kristian Iversen, Kenneth Bjerre, skipper Rory Schlein, Nicklas Porsing and Robert Lambert all return for the Stars, who led the table for much of the year before injuries struck and they were edged out by Poole.But the Stars do need to select a new Elite Draft Rider at reserve after their original Tier 2 choice, Joe Jacobs, announced he would be taking a year out of the sport.Grand Prix star Iversen said: “I am delighted to be back racing at Kings Lynn next season. I never really had any doubts about coming back. I feel at home with this club and I can’t wait to get going again. Buster (Chapman) and Rob (Lyon) have put together a good team and hopefully we can make up for what slipped away in the 2014 season.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
CRAIG Cook is determined to repay Belle Vue’s faith in him having agreed a deal to return for a fifth season in Aces colours.Cook admits he fell short of his own expectations at Elite League level in 2014, a year which still included the personal highlight of racing in the British Grand Prix as Wild Card.He said: “Last year wasn't one of my best seasons and I’m still not happy with the way it finished, and that’s one of the reasons I felt so strongly about returning to Belle Vue in 2015.“I owe it to the club, the fans and the management, who have supported me ever since I came here, to really up my game and get back to being the best I can be. Everyone put their faith in me last year and I didn't deliver, so I’m determined to make up for that and prove to them that their continuing faith is not misplaced.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
PETEBROROUGH have announced the return of Lewis Blackbird as their line-up for the 2015 Premier League campaign continues to take shape.Blackbird was a star turn during his debut season in Panthers colours even though it came to an abrupt halt due to a double fracture of the ankle and lower leg sustained in a crash when making his debut in the Danish League in August.He said: “First and foremost I’m delighted everyone pulled together to ensure the club survived. Peterborough is a great track with top fans and I loved every minute of my time riding here last season.“It ended pretty badly with injury, but I’m determined to come back an even better rider and I’m looking forward to working with the new promotion. My target is to become a heat leader and I’ve got a lot of things planned that will hopefully help me continue to improve.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
MILDENHALL chairman Kevin Jolly has moved quickly following the National League AGM to secure the services of captain Danny Halsey for the 2015 season.Halsey will be back for a fifth campaign in Fen Tigers colours after a best-ever campaign when he averaged 9.23 and won the NLRC at Rye House.Jolly, now in sole charge after colleagues Michael Lee and Chris Louis departed due to other commitments in the sport, said: “Dan is extremely popular around the club, and I am pleased to have him back for a fifth season in Mildenhall colours. He is very easy to work with and his previous experience as club captain will be of great value with us building a young side. “He is an out-and-out number one at this level and will lead from the front, his abilities around the Mildenhall circuit will be invaluable in a season where I feel home victories will be more important than ever. We now have four of our line-up sorted and with around thirteen points left to play with I have some decisions to make as we look to complete our side.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
NEW Eastbourne chairman Martin Dugard has welcomed decisions taken at the National League AGM on Tuesday.The Eagles have been accepted into the third tier after previously being mainstays of the Elite League, and they join fellow newcomers Birmingham and Rye House with Dugard relishing the challenge of a new era of racing at Arlington.Dugard said: “We went through a very dry spell when we were in the Elite League. The team we are going to base ourselves on is a team that can go and win.“We are allowing some of the youngsters to be dragged along for the first couple of months but hopefully once they find their feet, they can start taking it away and become heat leaders. We are looking to bring riders up.”
