The club will be hosting their annual press and practice session at Shielfield next Saturday, March 13, prior to the traditional curtain-raiser, the Tyne-Tweed Trophy challenge against Newcastle the following weekend.

But fans of the Bandits, who this year are being sponsored by A and J Scott sawmills of Wooperton, will have to wait until the clash against the Diamonds before they get to see their starting septet in action.

That's because the returning Adrian Rymel will miss the press and practice as he will be away on a pre-booked skiing holiday.

"I know the fans would have liked to see Adrian go through his paces at the practice," said a club spokesman, "but the holiday has been arranged for a long time now so he won't be there."

Rymel has spent the winter riding in Argentina where he won the multi-series championship. He competed in ten of the 11 rounds, won five of them and also had two second and two third placed finishes.

There were some organisational problems which meant he didn't, or wasn't allowed to compete in one of the events, but overall he topped the table on 163 points, putting him ahead of Lisandro Husman on 153 and Manuel Hauzinger on 130.

"That shows he is race fit," said the spokesman, "and as I am sure everyone is aware, he knows his way around Shielfield very well indeed, so I don't think missing the practice will be too much of a problem for him."

All the other riders are expected to be in attendance, and of course it is likely that new signings Lee Complin, Nick Simmons and Jade Mudgway will come in for most scrutiny from supporters.

Mudgway in particular is likely to want to get some laps under his belt as 2010 marks his official step up to the Premier League.

He has been racing in his native New Zealand over the past couple of months and his compatriot, former multi world champion Ivan Mauger has expressed an interest in his development.

Promoter John Anderson said: "Ivan is coming to Berwick later this year following the launch of his new book at the British Grand Prix in Cardiff. He wasn't originally intending to come to Berwick, but when he learned that Jade was in our team he changed his plans so he could fit us in because he is very interested in following his progress in the sport."

Anderson added: "It's been a long winter. The team was sorted before Christmas, so I know the fans haven't had much to talk and speculate about.

"But we have tried to keep everyone up to date with all the developments at the club, and of course we have had some very well attended social evenings. The pre-season launch party is being held at Berwick Holiday Centre this Saturday (March 6). Most of the riders will be there and I'm sure it will be another good night.

"But I know there is no substitute for the real thing and the fans can't wait for the new season to start. I'm no different and I'm really looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, as plans forge ahead for Michal Makovsky's testimonial on Saturday, March 27, organisers are now on the lookout for 16 official mascots for the meeting.

Children (under 16) are being invited to put their names forward for a raffle which will be drawn after the Tyne-Tweed Trophy meeting against Newcastle on the 20th.

The mascots will receive free admission to the meeting, along with one adult. They will be invited to the pits before the meeting to meet the riders and will then accompany them on the parade.

Tickets for the raffle, priced at £1, are available now - check out michalmakovsky.com for full details.

The line-up for the meeting is: Makovsky, Chris Harris, Tai Woffinden, Ben Barker, Adrian Rymel, Josef Franc, Kevin Doolan, Ricky Ashworth, Kenni Larsen, Tomasz Piszcz, Tomas Topinka, Lee Complin, Paul Clews, Carl Wilkinson, James Grieves, plus hopfully one other Grand Prix rider, subject to confirmation.

Former world champion Sam Ermolenko has also agreed to do a few demonstration laps.

The event is being sponsored by Neil McDonald Bulk Hauliers and Olympus Marquees.