(SPEEDWAY 1)
COVENTRY have announced long-serving main team sponsors Buildbase will return to back the Bees for a twelfth successive season.The builders’ merchants first linked with the club in 2004 and have been part of three Elite League title wins during that time.Regional Director John Clarke said: “I’ve always believed that you shouldn’t go into things for the short-term, but for this sponsorship to now be going into year twelve is quite remarkable, and it just goes to show how well things have progressed and how strong the bond is between our company and the club.“The brand exposure is important and there has been a great deal of justification for what we do, and naturally the on-track success helps too. Personally, I thoroughly enjoy the association with such a family-friendly sport.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE promoter Matt Ford is closing in on his full line-up for the 2015 season - although the Elite League champions were unable to finalise their plans this week as they had hoped.Ford has two places left to fill in the Pirates’ team after confirmation that former No.1 Darcy Ward would be unable to start the season due to suspension.Ford said: “There are a few issues that need to be addressed before I am a position to announce the line-up.“We are working hard on trying to resolve these matters which, whilst not insurmountable, do require our full attention. Until those matters have been settled we are not in a position to confirm our one to seven as yet as I had originally hoped.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EDINBURGH have confirmed Hamilton-based company Border Roofing will take over as the Monarchs’ team sponsors this season.Company owner Eddie McKenna is an all-round speedway fan, and he and wife Norma met supporters at the club’s Video Night on Friday.He said: “I heard that they didn’t have a sponsor for this year after the tremendous season they had last year, I contacted John (Campbell) and things went smoothly from then on. We negotiated a deal and it was signed, sealed and delivered very quickly.“I’ve never really supported a team, I’ve just been a speedway fan. I’ve sponsored many riders at Glasgow, Lee Complin at Berwick Bandits, and Gary Beaton. I think the team is shaping up great, (Craig) Cook is a fantastic rider, there’s no-one to touch him in the Premier League as long as he keeps his head.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE are hoping to get their first on-track view of Finnish newcomer Nike Lunna this weekend.The club are staging an Amateur meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday (11am) and they hope the current national under-21 champion will be able to take part.Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Nike got over here on Friday. He is keen to ride in the Amateur meeting and get in some competitive laps around the Eddie Wright Raceway prior to the start of the season. As long as he can get a bike together in time for the meeting, he’ll be in it.“So if anyone wants to see him in action around Scunthorpe, they can come along and experience watching one of our Amateur meetings, which are sponsored by Henderson Insurance. It’s not absolutely guaranteed Nike will be in it, but we’re hoping he will be.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
RYE House promoter Len Silver admits the club face a race against time to have all winter ground-works at the stadium complete in time for the new season.Silver, who has recently returned from a winter stay in the French Alps, says two ends of the Hoddesdon venue are being re-designed, and installation work continues on new wiring to the re-positioned floodlights – which should be finalised by March 14.He said: “It may well be that the new viewing areas at each end will not be ready right at the beginning of the season because they may be too wet, but the new seating on the back straight and other locations will compensate for that, and we can finish the end sections as the weather improves.“The track itself is in remarkably good shape in spite of the dampness and will be ready for the riders to practice on within two weeks.”
