New Role For Havelock

Retired speedway rider Gary Havelock has found himself a new role within the sport after announcing his retirement from racing last month.

The former World Champion will take charge of Elite League side Coventry this season and will be aiming to guide the Bees to championship glory. Havelock confirmed last week that he would not return to racing as he is still suffering from an injury sustained just over a year ago.

The position at the helm of Coventry became available over the winter when 2012 manager Blayne Scroggins was put in charge of the clubs National League team, Coventry Storm.

Havelock has a wealth of experience in the sport which will help him once the season gets underway.

Speaking on the clubs website, Havelock said: “It all came out of the blue really, Mick (Horton) enquired about how I was and when I told him I wasn’t riding he asked if I fancied being a team manager.

“Mick has picked the riders, and my job is to work with those riders and get the most out of them on race-nights. I’ve got a heads-up on three of them already, and I know Krzysztof Kasprzak as well. I don’t know the other three guys at all, but that shouldn’t be a problem.

“We need to get a good team spirit going, and I think that’s one of the main things. The guys need to be talking to get their set-ups right, and we also need to sit down with the boys and decide how they want the track.

“I’ve always felt that to be successful you’ve got to make your home track a fortress, and try to make it a place that other teams dread coming to.”