(SPEEDWAY 1)

SWINDON star Nick Morris is targeting a successful Australian Championship series which gets underway this weekend.The 21-year-old will take his place in the four round individual series with round one being staged at the famous Kurri-Kurri venue on Saturday, and is one of the favourites to challenge for the top prize.Morris said: “Winning the Aussie title would be an awesome way to start the new year. I want to win the title and add it to my CV as well as grab a spot for the Speedway Grand Prix qualifying rounds but I know it won't be easy.“It's a tough schedule for all of us with the travelling and the four meetings in such a short space of time but I'm ready and can't wait for the opening round.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

BERWICK chief John Anderson has arranged to purchase the ‘spare’ ambulance used to cover meetings at Shielfield Park.Anderson’s personal gesture will see the vehicle loaned free to the club on race-nights ensuring the continuing presence of two fully-fitted ambulances at all speedway events, which is also likely to lessen delays in the event of injuries.He said: “I learned that Rapid Reaction, the superb organisation from Morpeth who provide medical cover at so many events throughout the North-East, were facing an impossible problem - it had been decreed that, if they were to continue hiring out their ambulance to various events, there would be a need for them to find an impossible, for them, annual insurance premium of something like £10,000.“However, if the ambulance was privately-owned and only used for in-house cover at our meetings, the insurance situation wouldn't kick in. Investigations quickly revealed that Rapid Reaction were going to have to dispose of the vehicle so, I'm buying it!”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

EASTBOURNE have announced the return of Richard Andrews who will take over the club captaincy next season.Andrews became a fans’ favourite in his first year at Arlington and played a significant role in the Eagles’ treble trophy success in October.Eastbourne director Connor Dugard said: “Richard is our own asset. He came on leaps and bounds last year and puts in the effort both on and off the track.“He, along with Georgie Wood, are the longest serving riders of the new era of Eastbourne Speedway and I know he will do a good job as captain.“The calls from other clubs indicate just how valuable Richie is on an average of just over five. We all know he can up that figure considerably.”