THE new speedway season is just 10 days away, and Mildenhall have made two key additions to the club. Simon Barton has been appointed as co-promoter alongside Mick Horton, and established track curator Robert Huggins will be looking after the West Row cir

THE new speedway season is just 10 days away, and Mildenhall have made two key additions to the club.

Simon Barton has been appointed as co-promoter alongside Mick Horton, and established track curator Robert Huggins will be looking after the West Row circuit.

Barton, who purchased almost half of the club when he and Carl Harris joined the promotion team in mid-December, is delighted to have been granted the promoter's licence by the British Speedway Promoters' Association, following a meeting in February.

Barton said: "It's a whirlwind transformation for me, from being a supporter on the terraces, to the position I'm in now.

"Mick has the experience and contacts with riders and promoters, and my appointment will allow him to concentrate on building relationships with sponsors and promoting the club. I will look after business, financial and administration matters and take that burden away from him."

Horton said: "Simon is a great acquisition for the club. He is good at running businesses and has an excellent background and expertise in finance."

Problems with the West Row track surface occasionally stole the headlines last season, and it is thought the appointment of Huggins, commonly known as 'Huggy', will rectify that.

Huggins has maintained tracks for King's Lynn, Oxford and Peterborough, and Grand Prix meetings at Hackney.

Mildenhall team manager Laurence Rogers, who appointed Huggins to maintain the track during Shaun Tacey's testimonial last season, said: "Huggy is not only the best track man in the country, but he's also like a new signing for the team."

n Supporters will get their first opportunity to meet the new team at a fans' forum at the stadium on Sunday, 4.30pm. This costs £2 for adults and £1 for children and will be followed by a disco.

The club's open practise session will be on Wednesday, March 14, from 1pm, and the first meeting of the season is against Sheffield four days later in a challenge fixture at 4.30pm.