They're raring to go

There is an optimistic air around Hayley Stadium for the new campaign. Last year, the riders were making positive noises even if they didn't really seem to believe their own words, but in true Aussie style, Wasps of 2002 are not pulling their punches.

With both Frank Smart and Craig Watson returning having ridden for Newport, promoter Tim Stone is hoping for a positive start to the season after suffering a less than enjoyable time in 2001, as they finished bottom.

By his own admission, last season's skipper Steve Masters did not enjoy being captain, but this season Australian Watson is a different class.

The opening to the season promises to be an explosive start with Frank Smart and Watson face former former Wasp Anders Henriksson in the Reading line-up, both sides will know plenty about each other.

Watson is back after a season with Poole and he said: "I am really happy to be back, it will be good to face Anders Henriksson on Sunday, I'm really looking forward to it. "The support here is renowned throughout the Premier League and with the riders we have got assembled it promises to be a good season."

But Watson expects his talented team to perform. He said: "As captain, I always want to win and I'll make sure everyone in this side feels the same and pulls their weight."

Other Aussies in the team include Frank Smart and Scott Smith, while third-string rider Ashley Jones is recuperating in Australia and his place in the team has gone to former England test star Ben Howe, who has been drafted in as cover having spent last season recovering from a horrific arm injury of his own.

Howe broke his arm in two places and received 12 fractures in a horror crash at Arena Essex in September 2000 which led to a series of operations.

Stone said: "It's unfortunate about Ashley, because he was posting some very useful scores during the winter for the Australian team against the British Lions.

"Ben turned up at the New Year Classic with the intention of riding after the main event, but I ended up putting him in which was a shock and a surprise to him.

"It was his first competitive race since the injury, but Ben wants to get back to into the sport and I don't think many realised he was back in the swing of things, so no club picked him up.

"But that was our good fortune, I've told Ben it's for a period until we bring Ashley in, but it's a good chance for him to get back his race fitness."

Along with Howe, Barrie Evans also impressed at January's Classic and having raced at Mildenhall and Arena-Essex, he has plenty of experience in his corner with advice from former Speedway champion Michael Lee.

Australian Scott Smith is the only Wasp making a return to Hayley Stadium and although he was struggling last Saturday at a windswept and cold Hayley Stadium, half a world away from his native Antipodean home, he enthused about the 2002 season.

He said: "We had bad luck last season, a bad run of injuries and I myself had numerous mechanical trouble.

"With so many Aussies in the side, we are all mates and it will help on the track and we'll look out for each other."

His countryman Smart put it better. He said: "We have come 12,000 miles to race in Britain and we're not here to muck about!"

Smart is marrying his girlfriend Charlotte Rees on Saturday, before she watches him race on Sunday and with Wasps away at Reading on Monday.

Another returning Wasps from Australia is Carl Wilkinson who is an outstanding prospect and along with Lee Dicken will have a long commute from the East coast of England. Wilkinson rode for the Great Britain side in Australia this winter and the former Boston Barracuda Braves' rider caught Tim Stone's eye after appearing at Hayley Stadium against the Newport Mavericks.

Both Wilkinson and Dicken have proved they are willing to ride for Wasps. Dicken approached Stone to ride in the Wasps 2002 team after a nightmare season last year saw him dropped by his club Hull before finishing the season at Arena-Essex.

With Wilkinson coming from Lincolnshire and Dicken coming from Hull to ride for Newport every weekend, the pairs commitment can not be faulted.

And as Stone pointed out: "What you have to remember is Carl signed for this club while it was languishing bottom of the league and before we signed any heat leaders. "So that not only shows the faith I have in wanting Carl here, but it shows his willingness to come to Newport.

"Carl is another who has ridden well in Australia during the winter. "We've brought him in at the bottom of the team and I'm sure he will impress." Dicken endured what he described as a 'nightmare' last season after being dropped from the Hull side and managed to pick up the pieces at Arena Essex. He said: "It just went belly up at Hull, they had to make changes and my average fitted the bill. "I approached Tim, because I wanted to ride with Newport, just be because of the way it has come along and there's an excellent fan base here."

But perhaps the two gems in the Wasps team this season will be Watson and Smart, with Smart's unusual cornering and commitment, he's a crowd favourite.

Having served his time for failing a drugs test, Smart is back and raring to go and Stone can't wait to see him and Watson on the track together.

He said: "When Craig and Frank ride against Anders in heats 13 and 15, I'll probably shut my eyes, it's going to be explosive, they are determined to get Newport the success they deserve."