FOUR DOWN AS POTTERS SIGN UP ALCOCK FOR NEW SEASON

SPEEDWAY: It’s four down with three to go for the swiftacting Stoke promotion after the signing of local lad Joe Alcock it was confirmed over the weekend. Alcock’s inclusion comes on the back of Tom Perry, Luke Chessell and Connor Coles as 2019 Potters and is no surprise given that the 19-year-old has a strong affinity with the club and promotion. He made the transition from supporter on the terraces to full team member last season and made more than enough progress for the Potters’ promotion to readily include him again in 2019. Alcock can often be found at the Loomer Road circuit during the week, either practising or helping out the track-staff with the circuit and club amenities. He made his National League debut last season as he doubled up with MDL outfit Carmarthen and made steady progress despite a couple of collarbone injuries that restricted him having a full campaign. The enthusiastic Alcock commented: “I’m delighted to be back with Stoke, it’s my home town club and I’ve helped out down at the track before I was allowed to ride and it is home to me. “I am feeling excited about the line-up for next season and feel the club will be pushing for honours next year and it really cannot come quick enough. I learned a lot about myself in my first season and will admit at the beginning of the year I’d go to the tapes thinking I cannot beat him, but then I started to score points and later on in the season realised I’d got as much right as everyone else on the starting grid to be there and that I could beat the top riders and I’ve also learned about the different tracks and that will help me next season. “I want to up my starting average and also my aim is to force my way into the top five of the team and to up my profile, both with the team and individually, and to get some trophies both with the club and in individual meetings, I want to make a mark next year and show everyone what I’m capable of. “I’m already training hard and improving things with the bikes and like every rider at this time of year I’m also looking for sponsors for the new campaign and anyone interested in helping me out can either contact the club’s press officer pressoffice@ stoke-speedway.com or via my Facebook page, this is going to be a huge season for me and I intend to make it count.” NEIL EVANS