NEWPORT'S 2007 rider of the year Chris Schramm has confirmed his move into the Elite League for the new season.

Schramm, after two years with the Wasps,was the subject of interest from his parent club Mildenhall at the end of the last campaign, but he has shown the ambition to move into the top flight with Ipswich, withwhom he held the No.8 squad rider role last year.

His 5.91 average forNewport equates to 3.00 in the Elite League and enables him to start the season at Foxhall at reserve.

Ipswich rider-manager Chris Louis said: "I've followed Chris's progress since helping him in Tarnow back in 2006 during a World Under-21 semi-final and I am sure full-time Elite League speedway is what he needs to fulfil his potential."

Meanwhile, Carl Wilkin-son has become the second Wasps asset this winter to leave the club on a full transfer having agreed to join Premier League newcomers Scunthorpe.

Michal Rajkowski signed for Belle Vue early in the New Year after riding for the Wasps last season, but Wilkinson has only spent one of the last three years at the Hayley Stadium.

In 2007 he was loaned to Newcastle, and local considerations have played a part in his decision with Scunthorpe only 60 miles from his base.

Wasps promoter Tim Stone said: "Carl phoned me up and we had a good chat. We've always maintained a good relationship ever since we brought him infrom his Conference League days, and there are no problems at all with him.

"He has a family and really needs to be riding closer to home so we've agreed to let him go on a full transfer. Scunthorpe are moving to a Friday race-night this year and that suits him as well."

Wasps are yet to make any confirmed signings for the new campaign, which gets under way in March, but Stone reports that he is in talks with the remaining members of the 2007 team and potential new faces.

Rajkowski and Schramm are the only two riders from last year's line-up to be fixed up elsewhere at this stage, whilst the performance of Brent Werner at last weekend's New YearClassic raisedseveral eyebrows amidst speculation that the American could beconsidering areturn to racing after retiring midwaythrough last season. He finished second only to Grand Prix star Chris Harris and appears to have regained his enthusiasm for the sport after a troubled spell at Birmingham in 2007.