Starke can't wait to meet Heathens (From Stourbridge News)

Starke can't wait to meet Heathens

5:47pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 in Sport

NEW man Paul Starke is relishing the prospect of linking up with his Heathens team-mates next week.

The Dudley side will be together to meet supporters at Cradley Heath Liberal Club next Friday, March 1, for their season launch party.

And the following day club sponsors Recycled Aggregates are laying on a team bonding day, including a clay pigeon shooting competition.

Starke said: “I’m really looking forward to getting together with the lads and to be with the fans next week.

“It’s a great way to start the countdown to the new season and I’m sure we all can’t wait to get going.”

Starke is also on the lookout for sponsorship after making the winter switch from the Isle of Wight.

He said: “Any help I can get with sponsorship is a big benefit no matter how big or small the support is.

“I need to say a big thanks to Paul and Elise who are helping me a lot in the 2013 season.

“Obviously the cost of the sport is increasing all the time and you can’t do it alone, so I am in desperate need of sponsorship really.

“If anyone is interested then just please get in touch because it is more important than ever now with how expensive everything is getting.

“I don’t want to sound over confident, but I think I am capable of easily increasing my starting average.

“I had a bad spell last year really.

“I had a lot of machinery problems which affected my confidence and it was just one of those seasons.

“But now I’m at a track that I think suits me a lot better, and I think that should definitely show in my scores once I get going.

“I think as a team we’ve got a good shot this year as well. We’ve got a lot of young lads in the team, and if some of them come good we should do very well.

“We have riders who I think are only going to get better and if we can all fire together then we should be towards the top of the league.”

Tickets for the launch party are selling fast and the event is expected to be a sell-out.

All riders and management will be present and there will be an auction of a new 2013 race jacket, plus a raffle and disco.

Tickets can still be bought from the online shop at the club website dudleyheathens.co The evening will also see the launch of the new Erik Gundersen DVD which will be available for £16.