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Speedway: Arena get back on track at last

From the archive, first published Wednesday 30th Jun 2004.

Arena Essex return to track action tonight when they take on local rivals Ipswich in an Elite League fixture at the Purfleet Raceway.

The Hammers saw their home match against Wolverhampton last week called off because of bad weather, while Thursday's trip to Coventry was postponed due to the clash with Euro 2004.

Despite the week of inactivity, two Arena riders will miss tonight's action. Captain Kelvin Tatum is still suffering after aggravating a long-standing hip injury.

And Polish rider Greg Walasek, who missed the trip to Eastbourne because of a racing commitment in his homeland, has received a one match home ban and a fine from the sport's British governing body because of his absence.

The Hammers Promoter and Team Manager, Ronnie Russell, has covered the absence of these two key riders by utilising the rider replacement rule to cover for Tatum and introducing a guest for Walasek.

He has also changed the riding order in an attempt to make the most of the absence of these two influential Hammers riders with Grand Prix man Mark Loram taking over the number one race jacket  and the  rider replacement will be used at number five.

Published Wednesday June 30, 2004

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