Three out, two in as King’s Lynn Stars team boss Lyon aims to turn his ‘almost’ team into a ‘winning’ one

The revolving door at the Norfolk Arena shows no sign of slowing after King’s Lynn Stars team boss Rob Lyon released three reserves and completed a double-signing.

shares

Joe Screen

Lyon has moved to strengthen his side - who have lost six of their seven Elite League meetings this season - by replacing double-up pair Dakota North and Kyle Howarth with Polish rider Mateusz Szczepaniak.

Experienced former World Under-21 champion Joe Screen also comes into the team to replace Jordan Frampton. He will double-up alongside currently injured David Howe.

After returning home pointless from some promising away displays, Lyon believes the signings can turn Lynn from an “almost” team into a “winning” one this season.

He said: “We have been so close to earning league points in every single match we have ridden so far this season, but it has always been the matter of our number seven scoring too few a points.

“Now hopefully Mateusz will turn that difference around and Joe will be more than adequate covering for David when he is unavailable.

“On paper I feel we have an incredibly strong team and one I hope other teams will now fear. My plan is to start racking up the league points, starting at Belle Vue next Wednesday, and earn ourselves a place in the play-offs and maybe even go on to win the league.”

Szczepaniak, a 25-year-old Pole who rides for Orzel Lodz in the Polish First Division, had originally been signed by champions Poole Pirates this season.

However, he has yet to feature for the Dorset outfit, and with the help of Polish agent Krystian Plech agreed a full contract at number seven with Stars’ management.

Promoter Buster Chapman said: “Magic (Maciej Janowski) has been fantastic to deal with so far this season so I had no hesitations in signing Mateusz.

“It is great he will become a club asset after a few meetings and I hope he has a long and successful career with King’s Lynn in the Elite League.”

Screen’s arrival has been given the green light by double-up partner Howe, who is currently sidelined with a fractured shoulder, on Twitter.

“They’re a fair club so we’ll both get our share I’d say. I’m still a few weeks off anyway #backwhereyoubelong.”

Screen is a popular figure in speedway circles after starting his career with Belle Vue in 1989. He has since ridden for a host of clubs across the continent, won the British title twice, and competed for Premier League Glasgow Tigers last year.