Newport's Welsh Open meeting on Sunday - one of the biggest individual occasions in the British speedway calendar - will end with a new name on the championship trophy.

Sadly, Newport's Australian rider Craig Watson will not be able to defend his crown, recovering from a shattered right ankle which required a bone graft to help the rebuilding.

And not one of the 16-strong field has lifted the trophy before, half the field racing in the event for the first time.

That includes Czech Republic rider George Stancl, who will get in some early practice because he rides for Glasgow in the Premier League meeting on Friday night (tapes up 7pm) which kicks-off the biggest speedway weekend for south Wales.

After the league meeting it is the British Grand Prix at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday with the Welsh Open (1pm) the following day.

Stancl and team-mate Shane Parker will pose a big double threat to Newport, using Stuart Robson as their guest, who will be looking to make up for the big disappointment of a Premier League Knock-out Cup, first leg, defeat by Reading on Monday.

That should have been the second leg but the first meeting on Sunday was washed out and no new date has been agreed.

l Newport-asset Carl Wilkinson has signed for Premier League Berwick and is likely to be riding at Somerset on Friday night. Wilkinson, who lives near Boston, Lincolnshire, did not fit into the Wasps' plans this summer and has been riding at number one for his home-town club in the Conference League.

The 24-year-old Wilkinson, fifth in the Conference League averages on 10.67, steps in to the Berwick line-up at reserve for Joachim Kugelmann.

Wilkinson, riding at number two, had a tough season with Newport and even temporarily quit the sport when mechanical difficulties resulted in mounting bills.

But he bounced back to ride at reserve which gave him a new lease of life and he has been impressing with Boston.

Berwick boss Peter Waite said: "He is a lad who has been getting some massive double figure scores at Conference League level so far this season which is why we are delighted to welcome him into the Berwick club.

"He is eager to ride for us and is full of enthusiasm and his signing is a massively positive move by Berwick."

His home debut will be against Newport on their way home from riding in Glasgow and Edinburgh next week.

Stone said: "Berwick wanted to give him a run at reserve and I gave permission for them to make a move."

Two other former Newport riders are in the top ten Conference list - Barrie Evans, now with Stoke, in sixth spot on 10.11 and team-mate Luke Priest in ninth on 9.93.

l Wasps' skipper Tony Atkin is to ride in the British short-track championships at the Hayley Stadium on June 25, races featuring ten riders. The action starts at 7pm with practice from 5-6pm to which the public will be admitted.