Diamonds lay out the welcome mat for track legend ‘Bomber’

ONE of the finest riders ever to put on an England or Great Britain racejacket makes a rare appearance at Newcastle Diamonds’ home track at Byker tomorrow (6.30).

Peterborough Panthers are the visitors and they feature Chris Harris, affectionately known to fans everywhere as ‘Bomber’.

Harris, three times British champion, has been in speedway’s top flight for most of his near-20 years in the sport, while the Diamonds have raced in the second tier all of that time.

However, this season Bomber has joined many top men racing in both the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship leagues in the same way that Newcastle’s Robert Lambert, Steve Worrall and Stuart Robson do, so to see him in action against the Diamonds’ stars is an opportunity not to be missed.

A run of five defeats in six matches in May, including two to the Diamonds, persuaded the Panthers to tempt Harris into racing for them as well as for Rye House in the SGB Premiership.

His arrival has certainly brought about a change in fortunes as Peterborough won the Four Team Championship last Sunday, with Harris being unbeaten in his five races.

A Rye House fixture at Leicester tonight prevents Harris being at Berwick with Peterborough, so Diamonds’ ace Steve Worrall becomes a guest Panther for the evening.

Newcastle skipper Ludvig Lindgren also has a guest booking tonight in a Scottish local derby at Glasgow, filling in for injured Edinburgh skipper Sam Masters.

Diamonds’ team manager George English said: “Hopefully, all our lads will emerge unscathed from bookings this evening and we will be able to track a full-strength side against a strong Panthers’ outfit tomorrow.”