Former Oxford ace Jan Staechmann celebrates 20 years in British speedway in March.

Starring for Stoke in the Premier League, where he doubled up with Silver Machine last year, he is attracting the top names to his 'Staechmann Slideshow' at Stoke on Sunday, March 21.

World No 2 Jason Crump has confirmed that he will be taking part, along with five-times world champion Tony Rickardsson.

Staechmann said: "I'm really pleased that Jason accepted the invitation - he is one of the most exciting riders in world speedway.

"I think the whole conversation must have taken less than five minutes when I rang, and I am really excited to have two of the top three riders in last year's world championship at the meeting."

Meanwhile, Bobby Schwartz is joining the speedway pilgrimage to Telford in three weeks' time to pay homage to his life-long pal Bruce Penhall.

Penhall, who is coming out of retirement after 22 years to ride in the indoor ice international on Sunday, February 15, has confirmed it will be his speedway swansong.

When fellow-American Schwartz heard, he immediately contacted World Indoor Ice co-promoter Graham Drury and asked to be one of Penhall's match-race opponents.

The two popular Californians will have at least four other first-timers in the 19th indoor international - the world's longest-running indoor speedway event.

Coventry Bees' new signing Chris Harris, who doubled for Peterborough and Trelawny last season, Eastbourne Eagles' duo Edward Kennett and Adam Shields, plus Workington Comets' rising star Aidan Collins have also been signed up for the ice spectacular.

Kennett, 17, will be one of the youngest riders ever to compete at the Shropshire track, and Collins makes history along with his dad Les - the first father and son to line up in the same meeting.

Other riders in action include all of last season's British Open Championship top three, Denmark's Jan Staeachmann, the holder, runner-up Anders Henriksson (Sweden) and three-times indoor champion Wayne Broadhurst.

Penhall stages 'An evening with Bruce Penhall' at the Moat House Hotel, Telford, on Saturday, February 14 (7.30pm). Admission is £10.