Three more Crusaders sign in.

Sittingbourne speedway's pre-season planning took a huge step forward at the weekend with their training session at Iwade producing three new signings, a main sponsor and vital Television exposure with crews from BBC South East
and ITV Meridian in attendance.

The main focus was the signing of local Kent youngster James Theobald, the first rider to agree to join the Crusaders for their forthcoming league campaign. Joined by Chris Hunt and Dean Garrod on a job-sharing basis last
week, three more places in the side's seven man team were decided with the naming of Carl Downs, Mark Baseby and top-liner Tony Dart on Saturday.

Dart in particular is a notable signing, having been an important part of Mildenhall's championship-winning side last year. This leaves two positions to be filled, at number one and seven as the Crusaders continue their search for a star top-end rider.

Club spokesman Steve Ribbons sounds a note of caution though. "We're planning for the long term here and will not risk financial stability by over-committing ourselves. It's easy to open the chequebook and hope the gates pay for it but other sports have proved many times that can be a path to ruin."

The new campaign represents a major step-up for the Crusaders who are therefore delighted to announce main sponsorship from A.C.Associates of Detling, near Maidstone. Ribbons welcomed them, "Their speciality is in the area of Environmental Health and waste Management consultancy and we welcome David Carter and his company to Sittingbourne".

Past sponsors Set Lighting and Sound, team sponsors for the short 2004 non-league season are also welcomed along for the new campaign. "They were a vital part of the meetings we were able to run" observed Ribbons.

So with two signings to go the 2005 A.C. Associates Crusaders line-up consists of James Theobald, Tony Dart, Dean Garrod/Chris Hunt, Carl Downs and Mark Baseby with Daniel Blake as number eight.

Apart from the publicity side Saturday's session at Iwade also featured an important practice session as the new signings go about building a team. Chris Hunt is an experienced rider but until the weekend hadn't even seen
the Old Gun Site. His reaction? "It's a great little track and I can't wait to get racing on it".

Putting in impressive laps were Carl Downs who is seeking to establish himself as a top league rider this year while Tony Dart knows that star status in the team is there to be taken and put in an equally impressive session.

With the season opening on Easter Saturday with the highly-anticipated visit of the touring American "Dream Team" the Crusaders are working hard to meet the challenge of their first season of league racing since 1996. As club spokesman Ribbons observes "How many sporting clubs in Kent will be competing nationally and featuring American opposition this year?"

Former Canterbury Crusaders star and prolific grass-tracker Trevor Banks put in a surprise appearance at the track on Saturday and put his racing experience to good effect in suggesting he might be after a return from
retirement to help his old club out at their new home.

The final word for now comes from James Theobald. "I've been trying to establish myself in the sport for a little while so it's great to be part of the family at my local track and to find myself on TV."