SHEFFIELD Speedway ace Ricky Ashworth will be fit to start the season - despite a late scare.
Ashworth is back in the saddle after suffering burns to his neck during a refuelling incident at a meeting in America.
He cut short his trip to return to his Salford base where he is putting the finishing touches to his machinery for the new campaign which starts with the visit of Elite League champions Coventry to Owlerton next Thursday.
He said: "I was refuelling the bike in the outdoor pits and made the mistake of overfilling it.
"The fuel came back out of the pipe, next thing it all went up in frames - there was fire everywhere.
"I ended up with bad burns to my neck and had to go to hospital. It was bad, but it could have been much, much worse.
"I've been busy in the workshop since I got back last week and things are all over the place, but I will be ready for the season.
"I was worried that it might be a struggle to make the press and practice, but the burns look to have healed up well."
FIXTURE PICTURE
THURSDAY MARCH 6: PRESS AND PRACTICE: Sheffield 4pm
THURSDAY MARCH 13: CHALLENGE: Sheffield v Coventry 7.45
FRIDAY MARCH 14: CHALLENGE: Coventry v Sheffield 8pm
THURSDAY MARCH 20: PREMIER TROPHY: Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.45
FRIDAY MARCH 21: PREMIER TROPHY: Scunthorpe v Sheffield 5pm
