GMB Dons take to the track.

Wimbledon Speedway have clinched one of the most high profile sponsorships in British Speedway, after reaching agreement with the GMB union and will henceforth be known as the 'GMB Dons'.

The GMB is one of Britain's biggest trades unions, with Wimbledon Speedway joining Charlton FC, Brentford FC and Castleford Tigers RLFC as beneficiaries of their support. Wimbledon alone is the only stadium still staging speedway from the first division sides that dominated speedway in the boom years of the 1940s and early 50s.

"This is wonderful news for Wimbledon and the sport as a whole," said a delighted Ian Perkin, chairman of Wimbledon Speedway PLC, "To obtain the support of such a prestigious organisation in this, the 75th anniversary of British Speedway, is marvellous news for all GMB Dons supporters. We are very pleased that GMB regional secretary Derek Hunter will attend our press and practice day on Sunday 23 March and get his first view of the team in their new race jackets."

In addition to Hunter's appearance at Plough Lane, The Sun newspaper's 'Millennium' Page 3 model Rebekah Teasdale will be one of the star guests at the press and practice day, and will 'don' Wimbledon colours to pose with the current rider line-up as well as the Dons double world champion Ronnie Moore. Teasdale is expected to inject a great deal of glamour to the proceedings, while Moore will be on hand to celebrate the fact that in speedway's seventy-fifth year.

All GMB Dons riders will be attending as they fight for the right to win the inaugural Tommy Jansson Shield, named after the former Dons idol who sadly died in a track crash in 1976. In a bid to inject greater meaning to the proceedings, each rider will receive individual track time and attempt to record the fastest time of the day - F1 style - with the winner at the end of the two-hour session presented with the trophy.