NEWPORT are making final preparations for their big winter speedway event at the Hayley Stadium on Sunday.

The staging of the New Year Classic, which starts at 1pm, will be the tenth time the club haverun a conventional speedway meeting over the holiday period - and it is the only event of its kind in the UK during the four-month close season.

Despite the blow ofcurrent champion David Howe being forcedto withdrawearlier this week due to a collarbone injury, promoter Tim Stone is still happy with the 12-rider line-up, which includes the hottest property in British speedway.

Twice-previous winner Chris Harris is the reigning British Champion andgave the sport inthis country a huge boost with his sensational win in lastyear's British GrandPrix at the Millennium Stadium.

Harris has always beensupportive of this event, and has also made use of the Hayley Stadium circuit on several occasions this winter already as he tests machinery for his assault on silverware at WorldChampionship level this year.

Plenty of visiting supporters are expected to make the journey.

That will include a coach from Elite League club Coventry, to support Harris, and also from Birmingham who have two representatives in the line-up.

Former Wasp Phil Morris needs little introduction after his spell with the club last season and his local connections, whilst Howe's place is taken by the exciting teenager Adam Roynon, who has just joined the Brummies after impressing at Rye House in 2007.

Promoter Tim Stone said: "Obviously it's disappointing to lose David from the line-up but I understand why he's had to come to his decision.

"If he were to have another bump that could wreck the start of his season and we have to respect that.

"I'm really grateful to Adam for agreeing to come into the meeting. He's an exciting young rider who was as keen as mustard to take part, and I'm sure there will be plenty of Birmingham fans coming along to see him and Phil.

"Once again I feel we have an excellent mix in the line-up. Last year the title wasn't decided until the very last bend of the final and it would be good if we could see something as dramatic as that again on Sunday."

Harris will start the meeting as favourite, but is likely to receive a tough challenge from Lakeside rider Leigh Lanham, who has an impressive record of consistency in the event without ever managing to step onto the top of the podium, as well as track specialists Ricky Ashworth and Lee Complin, both Sheffield assets.

American rider Brent Werner, the winner two years ago, comes out of retirement for the meeting amidst speculation that he is planning a comeback to the sport, and the performance of two Polish riders will be of interest.

Marek Mroz made an incident-packed Hayley Stadium debut in the Welsh Open last summer, whilst 20-year-old Marcin Kozdras makes his first appearance having been likened in his home country to Michal Rajkowski, who rode for Newport last season but now appears set for a move into the Elite League.