IPSWICH Evening Star Witches acting skipper Steve Johnston has added fellow Australian Davey Watt to the field for his testimonial speedway meeting at Coventry on Sunday (start 1pm).

Elvin King

IPSWICH Evening Star Witches acting skipper Steve Johnston has added fellow Australian Davey Watt to the field for his testimonial speedway meeting at Coventry on Sunday (start 1pm).

Watt, who rides for Poole, has stepped in following the enforced withdrawal of American Billy Janniro.

Johnston, who helped Coventry win the Elite League last year, said: “I'm very grateful to Davey, fair play to him for coming in at this stage so that we have a top-class replacement.

“I would have liked him in originally, but was trying to have as many current Coventry riders, or riders I won the league last year with, in the meeting.

“But I've been very lucky that Davey has agreed.

“He's a team mate of mine in Sweden and we have travelled a lot together over there.

“I've known him since before he came over, when he was a mechanic in the Australian Tapp series.”

Janniro's withdrawal follows a crash riding for Coventry at Belle Vue on Monday although he will still be attending Johnno's testimonial.

Young Swede Linus Sundstrom is also in a field for a meeting that many Witches fans are expected to attend.

The teenager raced last year in Coventry's Brandonapolis individual meeting and drew praise for his performance. He rides for the Piraterna team in the Swedish Elite League.

“I recently brought a bike over for Linus, who wants to ride a few meetings in the UK, so as an afterthought I asked him if he'd like to do my testimonial. So he is!”

Sunday's field: L Adams, S Nicholls, J Crump, L Sundstrom, T Woffinden, J Screen, F Lindgren, D Howe, M Max, R Schlein, J Lyons, D Watt, S Johnston, C Stonehewer, C Woodward, S Stead.