Speedway: Todd Kurtz wants stability at Sheffield Tigers

Kurtz, 24, has been snapped up by Tigers as a club asset after parent club Plymouth collapsed and joins fellow new signing Rob Branford to complete the team.

He has a close relationship with co-promoter Peter Mole after they worked together at Newport and believes Sheffield will provide a perfect fit.

“It’s a good feeling” Kurtz said. “Plymouth have been fairly up and down over the last couple of seasons, and it’s sad they had to finish in the Premier League the way they did. That’s just the way it goes, and Sheffield is a very stable club so it’s good to know there will be no problems whilst the current promotion are in charge.

“I have a great connection with Peter Mole and I always had my mind on starting fresh for 2017. I need a stable, professional club to make sure my performances are as good as they can be and I don’t feel like that has happened the last couple of years. There have always been problems lingering around my racing. This year I’m confident there won’t be, and I’m really looking forward to the fresh start with a well-respected club.

“I don’t really look too far ahead of myself, I’ll just take it one meeting at a time. Obviously everyone wants to score points and do well for their team and their team mates, but you also need to do it consistently.

“I’ll be focusing on that as much as I can. A team in the top league would be great to keep me riding as much as possible, but we will see what happens.”

Kurtz and Branford join Josh Grajczonek, Kyle Howarth, Josh Bates, Lasse Bjerre and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn in the Tigers’ side.