THE Reading Racers will take to the track for the first time in eleven months when they head to Swindon on Thursday night for a Four Team Tournament (7.45pm).
The Berkshire club are still waiting for building work to start on their proposed new stadium in Island Road, but in the meantime their immediate focus will be on putting on a good show at the Abbey Stadium.
The Racers will be up against the hosts, plus teams representing Oxford and Cradley Heath.
The meeting is the brainchild of Swindon boss Gary Patchett who has been busy for much of the season assembling the four teams and getting the whole event organised.
Patchett said: “It was unfortunate that we had to cancel the original staging in July because of rider unavailability, but now we are able to present an even better field.”
“Hopefully we will see a good turn out of fans as I’m sure it’ll be a very keenly-contested meeting.
“At Swindon we do miss local derbies with the Racers and the Cheetahs, while Cradley really was a legendary club.”
Tim Sugar will be managing the Reading quartet of Matej Zagar, Travis McGowan, Patrick Hougaard and Mark Lemon. The Racers will be backed by loyal club sponsor, Ideal Video.
Sugar said: “It’s an honour to be in charge of the side again and the four teams look very evenly matched.
“The team has a great Racers feel about it and it’ll be good to see some of our favourites back in a Reading race jacket.
“Hopefully the weather will be fine and there will be some tremendous racing for everyone to enjoy.”
Teams: SWINDON: Leigh Adams, Simon Stead, Morten Risager, Mads Korneliussen Team Manager: Alun Rossiter
READING: Matej Zagar, Travis McGowan, Patrick Hougaard, Mark Lemon Team Manager: Tim Sugar
CRADLEY HEATH: Hans Andersen, Adam Shields, Darcy Ward, Cory Gathercole Team Manager: Colin Pratt
OXFORD: Jason Crump, Niels Kristian Iversen, Steve Johnston, Paul Hurry Team Manager: Richard Palmer