Tony Atkin, Newport Wasps skipper, will be competing in the third round of the Great Britain short-track speedway championship at the Hayley Stadium on Saturday night.

Two rounds of the sport - imported from America - have already been staged at King's Lynn and Sheffield. But it's all a novelty to Atkin who said: "I don't even know what it is.

"When I was asked to take part I agreed - but I'd just scored 14 points on the Isle of Wight and I would have agreed to anything! "I have ridden grass track and sidecars - driving because I would never passenger - but the fact that there will be more bikes on the track doesn't bother me.

"I might be good; I might be bad."

And the key figure behind the introduction of short-track racing is Lincolnshire-based Peter Boast, the former Boston and Sheffield speedway rider, who is also taking part in the championship.

He said: "I know the speedway game quite well and it has helped me get this up and running.

"It is a mega-exciting sport, not so fast as speedway, but there is always something happening, always something to hold the crowd's attention.

"It is an American-based sport, huge in the 80s, and getting massive crowds.

"I found out about it when it was being held in Germany and Holland.

"There is a European championship so it is a well-structured sport.

"It is a chance for people to see bikes which they can even buy from a showroom.

"We want to attract speedway fans. It is not going to take over from speedway but it is a great alternative."

Leading the race for the UK crown after two rounds - there are seven in all - is Italian Marco Belli who, with 28 points, holds a nine-point advantage.

l The meeting, which also includes quad-bike racing, starts at 7.0pm but the turnstiles will open from 5pm allowing spectators the chance to watch riders in practice.

l A minute's silence was observed at the Wasps home meeting with Hull on Sunday to mark the sudden death of speedway fan Paul Thorne who was also a mechanic with former start Frank Smart.

l The Wasps are not in action on Sunday because the Premier League pairs meeting is being staged in Glasgow but the Mavericks are riding at Buxton in the Conference League.

l A record-breaking 14 world public debuts of ultimate supercars takes place at the Goodwood Festival of Sport - the world's biggest and most diverse celebration of motor sporting history.

The event takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.