Tim Stone, Newport speedway promoter, no longer counts the hours he spends preparing the Hayley Stadium track for the annual New Year Classic, this year's event taking place Sunday (tapes-up 1.30pm).

Stone's nearest estimate was "a lot," adding, "I don't count them now. You work to get the job done. It is a bit like starting the season again and you are also dealing with the conditions.

"We have probably had the most rain I can remember in the winter, leading up to the meeting. It is certainly not easy. I have now done all I can on the track - now it's up to the weather which is governing everything."

The Classic - running for the eighth winter - has grown in popularity and this year is no exception with fans from some tracks travelling by coach. The field is extremely competitive and very open with American Brent Werner, an ever present at the event, looking to retain the title.

But it certainly won't be easy in the face of such competitors as Grand Prix rider Chris Harris, who has a circuit spot this summer, Leigh Lanham, Chris Neath, Reading's Zdenek Sam' Simota, riding for the first time, Edward Kennett and Phil Morris, who carries the hopes of home club Newport Wasps.

Riders with Elite League experience are in the 12-strong field, a completely new face to British speedway in the shape of 22-year-old Polish rider Michal Rajkowski, and Newport's teenage rider Nicki Glanz, who rode 500cc machines for the first time last summer. And there are four previous winners in the dozen - champion Werner, Harris looking for his third title, David Howe and Morris, second winner of the event.

Full line-up: Chris Harris, David Howe, Edward Kennett, Richard Hall, Brent Werner, Leigh Lanham, Zdenek SImota, Chris Neath, Phil Morris, Nick Glanz, Lubos Tomicek and Michal Rajkowski.

l Previous winners 1999 - Robbie Kessler 2000 - Phil Morris 2002 - Michael Coles 2003 - David Howe 2004 - Chris Harris 2005 - Chris Harris 2006 - Brent Werner