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TROY Batchelor is to return to King’s Lynn in 2016 - a decade after his previous spell with the club!Batchelor was part of the Stars’ Treble-winning side at Premier League level in 2006, and the Australian will now ride for the Norfolk club in the top flight after spending the last four seasons with Swindon.King’s Lynn boss Rob Lyon said: “Troy is an accomplished rider who will bring a lot to the team, on and off the track. He is a character and I believe we need that, we missed a bit of personality in the team last year especially after Rory’s (Schlein) injury.“On the track he has the ability to win meetings. Over the years as a visiting rider he has been excellent and we want to see him winning plenty of races at the Adrian Flux Arena next year.”Batchelor joins Robert Lambert as a confirmed starter for the Stars next season, and the club have also confirmed their home meetings in 2016 will take place on Thursdays rather than Wednesdays.
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NICK Morris has sealed a return to Swindon for a fifth successive season with the Robins.The popular Australian youngster has made tremendous progress with the Robins in recent years, culminating in him making his breakthrough in a heat-leader role in 2015.Morris said: “I’m happy to be back. Swindon is pretty much my home now after riding there the last few years, and they have always looked after me there.“It’s going to be awesome to ride with all the Aussies we’ve got in the team and to fight for the title again in 2016.”
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POLISH star Grzegorz Walasek is to return for a second season with Leicester in 2016.Walasek proved to be a high-scorer especially in home matches for the Lions last season, despite suffering a series of injuries which left him on the sidelines on three separate occasions.Leicester promoter David Hemsley said: “From the moment we started to think about the composition of the team for next year Grzegorz was always in our thoughts and we have Matt Ford, the Poole promoter, to thank for allowing him to return on loan to Leicester for a second season. “We are progressing with negotiations with riders and envisage that our team will be completed before Christmas.”
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LAKESIDE have announced the signing of Lewis Kerr to take one of their Draft reserve positions next season.Kerr had initially been expected to line up for parent club King’s Lynn but their switch to Thursday night racing would have clashed with his Premier League fixtures for Ipswich.Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook said: “This really is terrific news for the club and we're very much looking forward to working with Lewis and the Revolution Speedway Team for whom he is a factory rider. I've already been extremely impressed dealing with Lewis and Rob (Painter) from Revolution. “To bring him in now means we will have to remodel the team slightly and that's a task we're happy to do to have such a talent in such a prominent team position. The completion of that team building won't be rushed as we aim to have strength in all departments in which we've previously been found lacking.”
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BIRMINGHAM have confirmed teenage talent Zach Wajtknecht will be back for their National League title defence in 2016.Wajtknecht enjoyed a stunning first season with the Brummies this year, and having started as a 3.00 reserve he will now take their No.1 position in their side.Drury said: “Zach was always another priority when building the team for 2016 and I'm so happy to have him leading from the front next season.“It will be a totally different sort of pressure for the lad next year but I have every confidence that he will have another fantastic season and score plenty of important points for us over the course of the season.”
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STOKE have announced the signing of veteran racer Tony Atkin who returns to the club after a loan spell with local rivals Buxton.The 49-year-old achieved an impressive 8.18 average with the Hitmen this year and he now joins Danny Phillips in the Potters’ team for 2016.Manager Malcolm Vasey said: “Tony had one of his best seasons for years and is excited about racing for Stoke next season. He was being sought-after by a number of clubs who saw the vast experience he has and how he’d improved his average last season. “He is a great team man and will be able to advise and help some of the younger members of the side with his wealth of experience in the sport. His enthusiasm is second to none and he wants the club to do well and win something - that is what we all want to do, and we are delighted to have him return to Loomer Road.”
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FORMER Coventry mascot Conor Dwyer will be back to race for the club in the National League next season.Dwyer was named the Most Improved Rider for the Storm in 2015, which was his first full season in the third tier of the sport, when he put his average up from 3.00 to 5.44.He said: “It’s really to have everything sorted out early, nobody likes having to wait around until February so to have it done before Christmas means it isn’t going to be a worrying time thinking I might get left out!“I think next year might be a bit tougher because I’ll be in the top five from the start, but hopefully I can improve some more and also it will be good experience to go to the new venues, Belle Vue and the Isle of Wight.”
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NICK Phillips has been announced as the third signing for Eastbourne in 2016.Phillips, who has a motocross background, is a relative newcomer to speedway and is likely to line-up in the No.7 position for the Eagles - and club director Connor Dugard believes he has what it takes.Dugard said: “Look at Georgie (Wood) last year. We were given a lot of stick saying you shouldn't chuck an unknown into a team - how he proved them wrong.“I've done my research and Nick’s doing a second slower than Bradley (Wilson-Dean) was around Somerset, and that's Nick riding on a slicker track. He has a good pedigree about him. I like to think at Eastbourne we get the best out of our riders. You only have to look at their start and finish averages from last year.”
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THE Isle of Wight have continued their team-building with the signing of Tyler Govier to take the second reserve spot in their team.Govier was part of the Cradley squad in 2015 and will now team up with Matt Saul at reserve for the Warriors in their first season back in the sport.Govier said: “I am so stoked to be part of the Warriors side for next season, a full season with a great club like the Isle of Wight is just what I need and now it's push time in my speedway career. “I know I'm capable of doubling my three point average by the end of the season and that is my main aim and goal for next year, and I hope to progress as a rider from there.”
