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WOLVERHAMPTON'S Monmore Green circuit has been voted the Elite League's Track of the Year for 2015.SCB referees give each track a rating based on a set criteria which is put in place before the season and the recognition continues an impressive run which has seen the club win the accolade five times and finish runner-up on four occasions in the past decade - a streak which Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten admits he is very proud of.Van Straaten said: “To be officially recognised as one of the top tracks in the country once again tells its own story and we're fortunate to have such a great track team.“Doc Bridgett is rightfully acknowledged as a master in track preparation and this is the ultimate reward for him and his team.”Wolverhampton edged out Swindon and Leicester for the Elite League award, with Workington taking the Premier League accolade ahead of Edinburgh and Newcastle. Cradley were top in the National League ahead of Perry Barr co-tenants Birmingham with King’s Lynn third.
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KING’S Lynn has been named as the venue for the eighth annual Ben Fund Bonanza on Saturday March 12, 2016.The meeting is one of the prime fund-raising events for the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund, and the first rider to be confirmed is Lewis Kerr, who resumes his career next season after his horrific crash in the Premier League Fours at Peterborough in August.The event reverts to a traditional 16-rider, 20-heat format with semi-final and final, along with races for British Speedway’s future stars under the guidance of Youth boss Neil Vatcher.Stars promoter Buster Chapman said: “I have been interested in having it before, but it’s good that it goes to different venues. This year we offered our services and our offer has been taken up. I’m looking forward to it. We have good facilities for the injured riders to attend.”Kerr added: “The Ben Fund were a huge help, they were absolutely a massive help with everything. Obviously with not riding and not earning they were a massive help with the bills. “It’s a great cause and I think everyone should ride in it. Quite apart from that it is a great chance to get in some laps at the start of the season and I’m happy that I’ll be riding in it myself.”
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FORMER Rye House rider Peter Schroeck is back at Hoddesdon as part of the club’s management team.German-born Schroeck, who made 41 appearances for the Rockets in 1988/89, has been appointed to co-manage the club’s Premier League and National League teams alongside experienced boss John Sampford.Rye House owners Team BMR said: “We are delighted to welcome Peter on-board. He has been successfully running our weekend training schools, and this a natural next step up. And what better a mentor to learn the ropes from than an experienced tactician like John.“While the two will work together on the majority of race nights, with John as the senior partner, there will obviously be occasions where the Rockets and Raiders will be in separate action in different parts of the country, and a two-man management team will come into its own.”
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EASTBOURNE have announced the signing of Jake Knight - after impressing against them last season!Knight joins the Eagles having spent the majority of his career with King’s Lynn Young Stars, with his 2015 season brought to an end by a broken nose suffered in a motocross accident.Eastbourne director Connor Dugard said: “I saw Jake last year at King’s Lynn and to put it bluntly he made us look silly when we were there.“It was clear that his equipment was letting him down - he’s a steal as a six-point average. We look forward to seeing him tear up Arlington.”
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BUXTON have handed former Newport rider Shelby Rutherford a return to the National League after a six-year absence.Rutherford, who has dual nationality and a British passport, will come into the Hitmen team on a re-assessed 3.50 average Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “By the end of the season, I’m hoping that he’ll be around a 5.00-5.50 average rider. There’s no pressure being put on Shelby, I just want him to come over and find his feet again and enjoy his racing. “It’s all about going back to the beginning next season and it’s a big learning year for him. With his average reduced to 3.50, he must still start the season in the top five, but I’m sure he’ll hold his own and if the worst came to the worst, he’d find himself at reserve, where I’m sure he’d score some good points.”
