The first three riders have signed up for Somerset Rebels’ Christmas Cracker meeting.

THE first three names for Somerset speedway’s Salt Express sponsored Christmas Cracker meeting at the Oaktree Arena on December 28 have been announced.

Two riders will be making comebacks following injuries that brought their 2012 season to a premature end, namely Ricky Ashworth and David Howe, with Simon Lambert also confirming his participation in the event.

Meeting co-ordinator Garry May said: “Since first announcing that we will be staging the meeting, we have been contacted by a number of riders eager to take part, and offers of both rider and heat sponsorship have started to come in.

“People can sponsor a rider for �50, for which they will receive the rider’s race-jacket duly signed by their rider, with heat sponsorship being set at �25.

“We have made one change to the format of the being from that originally announced. We will now be having a grand final for the top four scorers after the 20 heats have been completed to bring the meeting to a climax.”

Admission prices for the meeting have been set at �16 (adults), �12 (concessions), �4 (juniors 12-16), while children 11 and under will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by a paying adult (maximum of 2 children per adult). Additionally there will be a family ticket (two adults, two juniors) available at �36.

THE Oaktree Arena, home to the Cases Somerset Rebels, finished as runners-up in the Premier League section for speedway’s track of the year awards as voted by the referees.

Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: “Everyone connected with the club are delighted to have received such recognition, it being a true testament to the hours of hard work and dedication put in by our track curator, Ez Curtis, and the rest of the track staff team.”