SPEEDWAY: STOKE Easy Rider Potters start their Premier Trophy campaign on Saturday when they meet Yorkshire rivals Sheffield at Loomer Road, writes NEIL EVANS.
'It will be a big challenge for us because they have had a few meetings under their belts whereas we have just had the one. But we all start equal at 7.30pm and there is no extra incentive needed for us when we meet Sheffield at any time,' said Potters skipper Paul Pickering.
'As a team, we are keen to make a good start to the season and we certainly want to make our mark in the first competition of the year. It's always important to win your home meetings and we will certainly be giving it everything we have against them. They always put up a struggle and I'm sure there will be plenty of hard racing before the outcome is settled.'
Stoke Spitfires have just one place left to fill after handing team spots to Darren Andrews and Michael Mitchell.
'I'm looking forward to being with Stoke,' said Andrews.
'The team looks quite strong so far and hopefully we can put together a good challenge.' Jan Staechmann's jubilee meeting was called off after nine heats on Sunday after a hailstone storm left the track flooded.
Referee Tony Steele said: 'It would have taken about an hour and a half to dry the track out and we have to put rider safety first.'
Stoke Select were leading at the time from Long Eaton, Oxford and Wolverhampton.
