(SPEEDWAY 1)

KENT have confirmed a team place at Central Park next season for Luke Clifton as the third returning rider from this year’s line-up.The Kings are set to make several changes with Danny Ayres and Danno Verge having already been announced elsewhere, whilst promoter Len Silver has confirmed James Shanes and David Mason are also moving on.Silver said: “Before the (AGM) meeting myself and team boss Chris Hunt were confident the points limit would remain unchanged from last year, so it was a shock when the reduced total was voted in. “This has thwarted our plan to combine James Shanes with our already announced retention of skipper Luke Bowen and young rising star Jack Thomas in the septet for 2017.“I'm pleased that we can offer Luke Clifton a second season with us. Luke had a difficult 2016, his first season back in the sport after a long time out, suffering several bad knocks to his knee. Both Chris and myself think Luke will really step up to the plate in 2017.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

CRADLEY have snapped up Wearside racer Ryan Burton for their revamped side.Burton, 23, spent his debut season with Buxton notching an average of 3.37, and is now set to start the 2017 campaign at reserve for the Heathens alongside Joe Lawlor.Co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “For 2017 Will (Pottinger) and I both preferred a team that featured riders with experience at reserve.“We agreed that we needed to keep Joe at reserve even after his average had been re-assessed at 3.59“Ryan has had the benefit of a season's experience with Buxton after switching to speedway and even though a large part of that was spent riding in their top five he still increased his starting average.“He's sure to have benefitted from that experience and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve.”

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BIRMINGHAM have signed teenager Layne Cupitt as part of their side to defend the National League title next year.Cupitt had spells with King’s Lynn, Cradley and the Isle of Wight in 2016 and impressed in late-season visits to Perry Barr.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “I rate this lad very highly and I think he's going to prove to be a very good signing, especially on that bargain of an average.“He's got a very tidy style on a speedway bike, he's a very technical rider and I think he's one of the three-point picks that stood out on paper.“When he scored nine points in the British Under-19 Final at Perry Barr this year, he was a rider who caught my eye in that prestigious meeting and that performance typified his capabilities.”