Former world champion linked with Stars

A former world champion is being linked with a move to the Lynn Stars as the club’s team line-up is the subject of intense speculation

The name of 2021 World Champion Artem Laguta is appearing prominently on both social media and in the Polish press, even though club bosses are remaining tight-lipped on the situation

Rumours persist that they are on the verge of making a major transfer move and team boss Alex Brady is believed to have spent last weekend running the rule over several possible targets in Poland.

The MacInnes Stars were at Sheffield last night (Thursday) and then have a clear week before hosting the Tigers at the Adrian Flux Arena on June 1.

Laguta was unable to defend his World title last year due to his country’s invasion of Ukraine, but bans in various sports have gradually been lifted this season, enabling several riders to return to racing.

Ipswich made one of the headline signings of 2023 by moving for Emil Sayfutdinov, which has proved hugely successful in terms of both results and attendances, and Laguta has been linked with at least three Premiership clubs since the early weeks of the campaign.

Such a move, however, would not come without complications, and in terms of team personnel the Stars would need to make at least two changes in order to accommodate a rider of that standard.

And should they choose to go down that route, the decision over who would make way would not be a straightforward one – or indeed who else comes in.

But it was a telling factor that club owner Keith Chapman went public earlier this week to confirm that he no longer handles the financial running of the Stars, with both funding and team affairs in the hands of Alex Brady and Dale Allitt.

Chapman, who also owns Peterborough, has faced criticism due to the Panthers’ ongoing search for a No.1 rider after Nicki Pedersen crashed out in his first ride back in March and did not return.

It’s no secret that Chapman is a Stars fan at heart, but as the man who signs off the deals at Peterborough the criticism in this instance is ironic given that the two guest riders used by the Panthers in the last week – Richard Lawson and Dan Bewley – both piled up big points against Lynn.

Chapman said: “I no longer have any financial involvement in King’s Lynn Speedway, and whilst I still hold a promoter’s licence there, this will be my last season in that role and I’ve made that clear to everyone.

“At Peterborough everyone knows the problems we have faced, and it was me who did the deal with Nicki Pedersen to race at No.1, which unfortunately went wrong after one race.

“Since then we’ve been looking for a replacement, and trying to book the best guests we can under the circumstances.

“It hasn’t always worked but we had Max Fricke lined up for a meeting that was rained off, and I paid for Dan Bewley to guest on Monday in a meeting against King’s Lynn, so there’s no question of me making decisions to favour one club over the other.

“I just want to make it totally clear that the two clubs are not being run by the same person with one being prioritised over the other.”