SITTINGBOURNE AC Associates Crusaders' loan signing Peter Collyer is looking forward to the side's homecoming against Stoke Spitfires on Saturday.

Collyer is in relaxed mood, bouyed by a top-scoring performance in the Iwade-based team's first Speedway Conference League win of the season at Newport.

The 23-year-old, who currently tops the Crusaders' averages, said: "The team spirit here is fantastic and it’s been a huge boost for me after a stop-start season at my previous club Wimbledon to be getting an opportunity to show what I can really do."

Collyer seemed to be finding his form at Plough Lane when the ambitious London outfit declared him surplus to requirements. He feels no bitterness though.

“I have no problem with Wimbledon or what happened there. I know they wanted to bring in former world under-21 championship rider Grant MacDonald and that meant, with the way the gradings were, I wasn’t going to be first choice.

"So I asked to be loaned out and I’m delighted that I’ve gone to Sittingbourne. Iwade is a track I rode a lot as a youngster; and it’s great to be linking up with Shane Colvin again too.

“It’s good to be back with Steve Ribbons who, as well as the Rye House link, was also in charge of the Dons when I first rode for them.

"We just need to get as strong a team as we can together to try and secure that first home win."

The match against Stoke at the Old Gun Site starts at 1pm.