Diamonds are hoping guests will star again

HAVING so far drawn a blank in their search for a new rider, Newcastle BTS Diamonds again turn to two guests to bolster the team for tomorrow’s Championship league match at Byker (6.30).

The visitors are Ipswich Witches, who thumped the Diamonds just over a week ago 60-29 at their Suffolk track but suffered a home hammering 48 hours ago, 54-35, at the hands of Lakeside after Witches and former Newcastle No.1 Danny King crashed out in the opening race.

The Diamonds are bringing in Berwick skipper Kevin Doolan for his second guest appearance, and also Glasgow’s Paul Starke who has a lot of experience of the Byker track thanks to a stint six years ago when, learning his craft as a guest from the sport’s Third Division (National League), he appeared 15 times for Newcastle.

Co-promoter and team manager George English said: “It’s a shame we haven’t managed to nail down a new Diamond to replace Lewis Rose yet, although it remains our top priority.

“And with Stuart Robson still out with his finger injury, we have no alternative but to turn to the guest rider regulation again, and our thanks go to Kevin and Paul for accepting the bookings.

“New averages released this week mean we have no positional changes in the team, so skipper Ludvig Lindgren remains at No.1, while Ashley Morris and Carl Wilkinson are still handy racers to have in the reserve berths.

“Obviously, we’re looking for revenge again, just as we were when we beat Scunthorpe and then Redcar here recently after losing at their home tracks.”

If Danny King is not able to race, no doubt Ipswich will be hunting for a top guest to cover, and they certainly have another man well worth watching in Rory Schlein, winner of the British Championship semi-final at Newcastle last season and currently in terrific form for Wolverhampton in the Premier-ship with successive 15-point maximums to his name.