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BERWICK have announced deals have been completed for three members of their 2014 team to return to Shielfield Park this season.Claus Vissing, Kevin Doolan and Alex Edberg will all be back for the Bandits, who enjoyed their best campaign under their present promotion last year.Co-promoter Ryan Anderson said: “All three expressed real commitment to us last season and each has been desperate to return for next term - and in fairness these were easy deals to cement.“We are so pleased to have the trio back, not least as all three played major roles in our performances in the 2014 season, and we hope they will do so again in 2015.”
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BRITISH youngster Zach Wajtknecht has been adjudged the winner of the Pinhard Trophy for 2014 – one of the most prestigious awards for rising motorcycle stars.Wajtknecht, who won the FIM Long Track 250cc World Cup in France and is a former FIM Youth 125cc Champion, won the award which has been presented since 1950 by the Sunbeam MCC to the best under-21 sporting motorcyclist competing under ACU or SACU jurisdiction.The award was voted for by editors of leading motorcycle periodicals, the General Secretary of the ACU and three officials appointed by Sunbeam MCC with Wajtknecht, who will race for Birmingham in the National League this year, finishing top ahead of Trials rider Dan Peace.Wajtknecht said: “I’m over the moon with winning the Trophy. It’s a great way to top off a fantastic season in both youth and adult racing, which I wouldn’t have managed without the help of my family, Jane and Dave Lord, Paul Dummett and Paul Hurry.”
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WOLVERHAMPTON have agreed a deal to bring club legend Peter Karlsson back to Monmore Green – and he will be offered the captaincy.Karlsson, 45, is set to bring a wealth of experience to a young Wolves side and will start the season at second string on a modest 6.12 average after a tough year in 2014.Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “The more we’ve looked at it, we’ve realised that up until that blip last season he was a No.1 rider, and he would ride through a brick wall for Wolverhampton.“We’ve decided to go with him, we believe he will do an excellent job for us, and having spoken to him at length we believe last season was a one-off and he can get back to the level he was riding at before 2014.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SWINDON have confirmed they are pressing ahead with team building without former No.1 Peter Kildemand.The Dane has informed the club he will be sitting out British racing this season after three years with the Robins, leaving boss Alun Rossiter with 14.84 points remaining to fill the final two spots in their line-up.Rossiter said: “We’ve been working hard trying to find the best solution to fill those last two team places. It’s been a difficult job, but we are going to be announcing our next signing this week.“Hopefully now we have just one place left to fill everything can fall into place and we will end up challenging at the right end of the table when the season gets underway.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BIRMINGHAM have completed their 2015 line-up with the signing of former Kent and Stoke rider Adam Kirby.The Brummies are entering the National League for the first time as they make their return to the sport after closing down last July.Owner Tony Mole said: “I’d like to welcome Adam to the club and wish him well for a successful season in the famous yellow and red race jacket. He has shown on occasions what he is truly capable of and we hope he can find some consistency within the Birmingham team.“We are pleased to have our team completed and my sincere thanks go to Phil (Morris) for all his hard work. He has shown what a gentleman he is and his in-depth knowledge of the sport has shone through in his team building on our behalf.”
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BUXTON have announced the signing of Ryan Blacklock for a fourth season in Hitmen colours this year.Blacklock becomes the sixth name on the team-sheet at the Hi-Edge Raceway and expects to make a significant improvement on his 4.55 National League average in the forthcoming campaign.He said: “I know I am quick enough to beat most riders in the National League but it’s consistency that lets me down. I feel on most tracks I have the speed but silly mistakes tend to see me fall. I’m a racer and go for it!”With one place remaining in their line-up, Buxton are also planning to confirm the appointment of a new team manager in the near future.
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MILDENHALL have extended a tie-up with road sweeper concern KJM from club partnership to full team sponsor of the Fen Tigers.Trevor Murkin of KJM came on board at West Row in 2012 and his East Anglian company has been supporting the club in various ways for a number of years.Promoter Kevin Jolly said: “This is fantastic news for Mildenhall Speedway and the club’s immediate future. It is very important to have a team sponsor and I feel in Trevor Murkin and KJM we have the perfect link-up. “Trevor has been a big part of the club for some time, he has helped individual riders and the club overall on many occasions and is a true friend of Mildenhall Speedway.”
