Buxton’s successful application to join the National Development League is also good news for fans of a defunct Derbyshire club.

Ductair Bulls promoter Laurence Rogers has confirmed that from this spring (Easter Sunday, April 5 is pencilled in as the big reopening date), a team named ‘Invaders’ will make regular appearances at the Peak District circuit. The Invaders – the nickname last adopted by Long Eaton before racing ended at Station Road in 1997 – would join three other teams, representing Stoke, Crewe and Wolverhampton, in a new-look Midland Development League that will operate exclusively out of Buxton.

Rogers explained, “We can’t call them by their former club names, hence why they will be known as Invaders, Potters, Kings and Wolves. A lot of former Long Eaton fans have taken a keen interest in what we’re building at Buxton and, like the other three defunct teams that will make up the MDL, their fans can’t wait to pay us a visit and cheer on riders wearing familiar body colours.”

Long Eaton is approximately 45 miles (an hour or so drive) from Buxton; Crewe is 30 miles away; Stoke 34 miles; and Wolverhampton 58 miles.

Rogers added: “Supporters of those four clubs have been sadly deprived of a home track for too long, but we hope that by including them in the MDL they will at least have a recognisable team and riders to support on their visits to Buxton.”

The MDL, forced to find a new home after Birmingham closed last year, will see four teams of four riders meet each other six times – three ‘home’ and three ‘away’ – in 12 six-heat matches over the course of the season.

MDL fixtures will follow the main National Development League meetings involving the hosts, Buxton Ductair Bulls, with 125cc and 250cc demonstration races staged after heats two, four and six of the MDL clashes.

Any companies or individuals interested in getting involved as team sponsors should contact the club via email at commercial@buxtonspeedway.co.uk with any offers as soon as possible, as body colours are ready to be produced by league sponsors GTS Products.