SPEEDWAY: PURFLEET-based Lakeside Hammers speedway team have completed their team building for the 2013 season.

Contracts have already been agreed with captain Davey Watt, Rider of the Year and number one Peter Karlsson, the returning Pole Piotr Swiderski and Lewis Bridger.

And now the Hammers have unveiled second string and reserve position track slots which will go to Kim Nilsson, Robert Mear and Richie Worrall.

Nilsson will enter his second full season as a Hammer with aspirations to move towards a heat leader position.

He met with club bosses last week and has started his backroom preparations.

Fans favourite Mear will continue to concentrate solely on Elite League racing having turned down approaches to double up in the second tier of League racing but he will be active, along with Bridger, with the Club’s joint training project with Hagon Shocks.

Worrall will be the Club’s only double up rider, racing as well with Newcastle in the Premier League, and will go straight into the team proper after his first away meeting of the season carrying with him a six point plus average from his tremendous opening campaign with the Lakeside club, which was ended early by injury.

Hammers co promoter Jon Cook commented: "We are delighted to get our men and it’s the seven riders we have wanted since the points limit was passed. “We have the bulk of the team that got us into the top two of the table at the time of Lee Richardson's death and who then put in the sterling work immediately after to take the League points that ultimately won us a place in the Play Offs, which for us was a victory in itself.

“We decided that we wouldn't go out and find a straight replacement for Lee. It would be impossible to do that. “Instead we have filled his spot and that of our last season’s Double Up pair of Kauko Nieminen and Stuart Robson, with Lewis (Bridger) and Piotr (Swiderski). “We feel that gives us strength in depth, particularly at home, but importantly also at the three or four clubs we have targeted for away wins that are necessary to reach the Play offs".

Arena Essex Raceway action restarts in March.