WHOEVER said a speedway rider's life was one long run around a track every couple of days ought to have been with Frank Smart over the weekend.

Just as footballers seldom enjoy Christmas, bank holidays hardly exist for the speedsters.

Today will be the third in a row that Australian Smart (pictured) has been in action, having helped Newport Wasps to a 56-34 victory over Exeter Falcons on Sunday and then travelling down the M5 to Exeter's home track for an 11am start yesterday to guest for Trelawny.

And it was not just a case of washing down his boots and packing his things away for a quiet afternoon in front of the television after riding for Trelawny.

Smart was working late into the evening yesterday fixing his two bikes and getting them ready for the journey to the Isle of Wight tonight where the Wasps take on the Islanders in the Premier League.

Smart said: "I had to set off at 7am yesterday morning and I didn't know what time I would clock off when I got home.

"People don't realise what happens with us. They see you turning up and riding and having a few beers before you go home but it's far more than that."

Today's schedule for Smart and his Wasps' colleagues involved driving to Southampton, catching the ferry across the Solent and then another drive to their venue.

After circling the track a number of times in the meeting, it is a quick pack-away and then a dash back to catch the 10pm ferry - the last one leaves at 11pm - before another two hours on the road home.

Smart fancies the Wasps' chances tonight, saying: "They are a good team and it will be hard work but, traditionally, Newport have done fairly well there."

And the class of 2003 have some real quality which has given Smart and captain Craig Watson a bit of leeway this season.

Smart added: "This season has gone beyond anything anyone expected. Tony Atkin and Niels (Kristian Iversen) have been the powerhouse of the team.

"They regularly come up with points and that takes the pressure off heats 13 and 15 and off me and Craig. It's nice to have some back-up like that."

Smart is certainly on a roll at the moment and has made Exeter suffer in the past few days.

He scored 13 points plus a bonus from five rides on Sunday in the Wasps' victory at Hayley Stadium and added another ten from five rides guesting for Trelawny.

Another good haul tonight and a victory over the IoW will make the long trip home a bit more enjoyable.