Danny Phillips has become the first rider to sign on the dotted line for the 2022 campaign with the Armadale Devils.
The 25-year-old from Middlesbrough impressed last year as the Devils made their return to the sport following a 15-year hiatus.
Now the heat leader is targeting a place at the top of the National Development League both personally and for the team during his second campaign with the club.
Phillips improved throughout the season following a slow start as he admitted Armadale Stadium wasn’t amongst his favourite tracks prior to signing for the club.
He’s keen to take his brilliant form towards the end of the year into next season after beating some experienced Championship riders towards the latter stages.
Speaking to the club's website, he said: “I’m definitely glad to be back. I had a bit of a difficult start to the year last year as Armadale probably wasn’t my favourite track before that, but from mid season or so we had a bit of a gap then when we came back I really enjoyed it.
“When I got the phonecall it was a straightforward decision to return.”
After claiming notable scalps such as Jason Edwards, Jordan Jenkins and Dan and Joe Thompson, the heat leader is aiming to take that confidence into the new season. He said: “After those meetings against Leicester and Mildenhall last year and beating those guys, that really gives you the confidence you can do it.
“My plan this year is to cement myself as one of the top men in the league. You always want to increase your average year on year.
“I don’t know where I will start in the team whether it will be at No. 1 or what. My aim if I am No. 1 would be to maintain that, and if not it would be to get there as the season goes on.”
While Phillips is the first of last year’s riders to commit to the Devils for the 2022 season, he’s hoping he won’t be the last.
He added: “Everyone had doubts about how many points we’d score or winning any meetings last year so we proved them wrong.
“Another year with a similar group of lads would be great as we all got on well so it would be great to get together again, and I think we will kick on and do even better than last year.
“Obviously last year we could only do what we could do, but as many meetings as possible is ideal for me. The more you ride the better you do, so hopefully we’ll see a busier calendar.”
He added: “I just tend to show up and look to beat who is at the tapes with me.
“I used to look at other teams and say I need to beat him or him and put more pressure on myself and it worked against me so now I just focus on myself. I know when I get to that line I can beat anyone.”
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