MILDENHALL speedway team manager Laurence Rogers is hoping to unveil a new No. 1 by this weekend - one who he reckons will 'surprise a lot of people'.He is also in talks with a second heat leader, while considering the recommendation of a talented young rider, thought to be from Australasia.

MILDENHALL speedway team manager Laurence Rogers is hoping to unveil a new No. 1 by this weekend - one who he reckons will 'surprise a lot of people'.

He is also in talks with a second heat leader, while considering the recommendation of a talented young rider, thought to be from Australasia.

“We are 90 per cent there with our major signing for the new season,” he said. “We just have his transportation to sort out, and I believe we can put the sponsorship in place for that.”

He also disclosed he has ruled out potential heat leaders Andy Smith and Paul Thorpe.

“Andy isn't up to match fitness at the moment, while Paul, who I've known for ages, would prefer a track nearer to his home in Cheshire,” he said.

“But we are pretty hopeful of getting this No. 1, and even if it falls through this far into the negotiations I have another avenue to go down. You might say I'm in a crescent rather than a cul-de-sac.”

He would not be drawn on whether he had made an offer to vastly-experienced Australian racer Craig Watson - whose average has forced him out of Poole's Elite League side - although the word in the sport is that there has been contact.

“I have spoken to Craig,” he conceded. “And it was about speedway because I was standing next to him at the winter meeting at Newport on Sunday. Some people reckon he's going to re-join the Welsh club.

“I've seen on the internet that some of our supporters are getting worried because there aren't supposed to be many riders left to sign. Well, that's just not the case. I think people would be very surprised if they saw how long the list is of riders not yet fixed up.

“There are about 10 weeks to go to the start of the season, and I've know times at clubs when the final rider in the team hasn't signed until a day or two before the first match.

“I don't see us being in that situation. We could well have our top two riders in place within a week, and then we'll have a very clear picture of what we need to complete the Fen Tigers line-up for the Premier League campaign.

“We are considering this youngster from, what can I say, 'warmer climes', because he comes recommended by somebody very highly thought of in the sport.”