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RYE House newcomer Davey Watt made a flying start to 2017 by taking the first round of the Australian Championship series.Watt headed home Justin Sedgmen, King’s Lynn’s Troy Batchelor and Nick Morris of Swindon in Wednesday’s opener at Gillman after an impressive performance in which he won five of his six outings.Said Watt: “It was absolutely brilliant to win Round 1. I’ve put in hard work this off-season, and it’s starting to pay off.“I know it will be tough at the other rounds, but I certainly am happy to have got off to such a good start.”

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LAKESIDE’S 2017 team is taking shape after they snapped up David Mason and Nick Laurence ahead of the new National League season.. Mason, 40, holds the National League track record at the Arena-Essex Raceway and joins on a 6.54 average after spending last season with Kent, whilst 26-year-old Laurence will slot in at reserve on a 3.00 average.Hammers coach Kelvin Tatum said: “David Mason is an experienced rider, and he fitted very nicely into the third heat-leader slot for us.“We’re pleased to have him and I think he’ll be very valuable. He’s a reliable scorer, but I think he’ll also have a positive impact on the younger riders off the track.“Nick is a bit of an unknown quantity to a lot of people. He’s been in and out of the sport but he’s very excited to have a team place with the Hammers and I think he could surprise a few people.”

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FORMER British Under-21 Champion David Howe is set to make a track return in Simon Lambert’s Testimonial at King’s Lynn.Howe called time on his racing career in 2015 but will line-up for Lambert’s big meeting on March 26, joining Ulrich Ostergaard and Kenneth Hansen as confirmed starters so far.Said Howe: “I’ve known Simon since he was a kid hanging around the tracks, but the first time I really got to know him was when we both joined Scunthorpe in 2009. He was a great team-mate and always helpful to be around.“To be honest, I can’t believe he is having a Testimonial, as I still think of him as being in his teens. I was really pleased to be asked to ride, even if it is just for one meeting.”