READING Racers Speedway team compete in their first away matches of their new era this weekend.

They travel to Plymouth for a double dose of Southern Development League action on Saturday.

As well as facing the home Demons team, they also race against the Weymouth Wildcats - who have adopted the Devon circuit as their temporary home – in two six-heat matches, starting at 7pm.

Racers find themselves without captain Luke Harris, so promote William O’Keefe to the number one berth, while Nick Laurence takes over the skipper’s role for the night.

With squad member Kyle Roberts sitting out due to injury, as well as the ruling preventing SDL teams from tracking more than two National League riders - O’Keefe and Laurence both ride in the higher league.

Steve Anderson, a 19-year-old from the west country with plenty of experience of the Plymouth track, steps into the team for both matches.

Reading managers Mat Stevens and Gene Carter have had selection headaches for recent matches as riders they named at the start of the season have been signed up by National League teams, showing the quality of the squad they unveiled back in March.

With Harris, Laurence, Roberts and O’Keefe now all regularly riding at a higher level, it has meant many hours spent on the phone.

Plymouth are experiencing their own problems with rider injuries and withdrawals, but are expected to also include two NL riders in Henry Atkins and Callum Walker.

Weymouth face the Racers in their first home match since mid May, but will be brimming with confidence after a surprise away win against Exeter a month ago.

Reading line up: 1 William O’Keefe; 2 Steve Anderson; 3 Nick Laurence (c); 4. Stephen Whitehouse.

Weymouth line up: 1 Kenny Bowdery, 2 Craig Nethercott, 3 Chris Bambury, 4 Andrew Palmer.

  • Reading Racers management accepted an invitation to sponsor a pairs meeting at Isle of Wight last week.

While riders were drawn from a pool at random, Reading were somewhat ironically represented by James Cockle, who rode for the Racers in their Smallmead days, plus Jamie Sealey, whose family looked after the Reading stadium and track for many years, while his uncle Lance also rode for them.