Dane Mads Korneliussen has signed for a second season with Newport Wasps and his fellow countryman Kristian Lund is expected to follow in his footsteps very shortly.

Korneliussen, 21, joined Newport at the start of last season and took the number one slot previously occupied by popular Australian Frank Smart, who decided to retire and return home.

Tim Stone, Newport promoter, said: "Mads did really well in his first full season, experiencing tracks for the first time, and for him to get a near-seven point average was a credit to him.

"This season he will be looking to increase his average. He is a Newport asset and we will all reap the benefit of the experience he gained last season.

"I have got a lot of time and respect for Mads. He is a thinking rider. If things go wrong he doesn't come into the pits and throw his helmet around and blame other people but sits down and works out what went wrong and tries to put it right."

Lund arrived on loan from Newcastle, making his debut in a home Premier League success against Exeter in late June.

Obviously, linking him with fellow countryman Korneliussen was a good move by Stone and former Wasps rider Niels-Kristian Iversen, another Dane, is still a regular at the Hayley Stadium track. All three were together for the New Year Classic and at the delayed end-of-season presentation evening.

Korneliussen and Lund will be back in Britain to compete at the Telford ice spectacular on February 13 along with Tony Atkin, who will also be riding in the Wasps team this summer.

With Korneliussen putting pen to paper it now remains for Lund to complete a deal along with Craig Watson, who has spent most of the winter competing in his native Australia. He is expected back in Wales some time next month

l The curtain raiser to the Hayley Stadium, the Prince of Wales Trophy, is on March 6 and Korneliussen, Iversen and Watson will be among the starters.

Welshman Phil Morris, who has moved from Reading to Newcastle, will also ride.

Stone said: "After the success of the New Year Classic, I am expecting another big turnout for the opening meeting."