Burnt Oak's teenage speedway star Ian Clarke had the call he has been waiting for throughout the winter months on Sunday when Reading promoter Pat Bliss confirmed that he will be in the league champions' Premier League squad for the forthcoming 1998 season.

With speedway promoters always notoriously late with naming their squads for season's start in March after the search for international stars abroad, Ian, who rode for the junior side last term, has been told he will ride at number eight in the team and also in Reading's Youth Development League team.

With three youngsters battling it out for a team spot at the Racer's tail end, gritty Ian is determined to grab himself a full team spot before too long and the 16-year-old had a big smile on his face returning from practice at Smallmead on Sunday after turning in some really impressive performances on the training track.

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