Max is taking a step up to the Diamonds

THE 2016 individual champion of the National League (the third tier of racing in GB) Max Clegg is stepping up a division and joining Newcastle BTS Diamonds for the 2019 Championship season.

Yorkshireman Clegg, 22, becomes the third signing in the past week as club co-promoters Martin Phillips and George English step up the pace after Eastbourne and Birmingham confirmed they were the two National League clubs moving up the ladder and hunting for new racers.

Birmingham have already snapped up Ashley Morris, a very popular Diamond of the past few seasons, which perhaps is understandable as he lives in the Wolverhampton area.

It looks like being a muchchanged Newcastle side for its 90th anniversary season as this year’s top man Tero Aarnio has joined league champions Workington Comets for 2019. Aarnio has also signed a contract to race in Poland and, with Sunday being the main race day over there, it would have severely impacted on his Newcastle appearances as the Diamonds home meetings at the Byker track are always staged on that day.

Nonetheless, it is understood co-promoters Phillips and English are deep in talks with a top-line Championship star with the hope he will fill the No. 1 spot next year. Phillips said: “What will be will be and for the moment we are delighted to welcome Max. “He has had quite a bit of experience at our level of racing with Edinburgh, including, I am told, a memorable night in 2017 when he scored 14 (paid 15) points which enabled his team to draw 45-45 at Brough Park.

“I would love to think he has a few more displays like that up his sleeve when in our colours.”