ON the eve of the 2008 Premier League season, Poole/Sea View Coaches have received a major boost with the signing of former British Cycle Speedway champion Gavin Wheeler.

Wheeler will be joined by two additional new signings with fellow Southampton-based rider Tom Colling and Thomas Reed from Exeter who were England's top two performers in the 2007 World Junior Final.

Welcoming the new riders to a recent training session, club coach Colin Sutton said that Wheeler was the perfect replacement for Australian star Dan Pudney, who returned home at the end of 2007.

"Gavin is a rider with the highest credentials on the domestic race scene and the perfect spearhead for the quest to lift the British League title," said Sutton.

Polish star Artur Poprawski will also be returing to Baiter Park to race after making a big impression with local supporters and fellow riders in his inaugural season.

Poprawski is likely to be joined by another outstanding Pole Marcin Paradzinski if current talks with the Torun club prove successful.

Premier League racing will be launched at Ipswich this season along with established venues at Oxford, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Norwich and Sheffield.

"This is the toughest team competition in the world of cycle speedway and our talented squad of a dozen top track stars will once again see Poole start the season as serious contenders for the title," added Sutton.

Local fans will get an early opportunity to see Thomas Reed in action at the Baiter Park track on Sunday when Exeter are the visitors for South-West league action.

There will be an earlier start time of 11am to avoid a clash with speedway at Poole Stadium.