A British number two champion woman cyclist has signed to the Coventry Devlins Newsagents Cycle Speedway team for the 2012 season.

It’s another cycling challenge for bicycle mad Sarah Hanson, a 24 year old graduate from Coventry. She already competes in Mountain Biking, Bike Polo and a new craze, `Rollapaluza`- an indoor sport on two wheels.

Hanson is the current Midlands champion of Rollapaluza, a hyped up cycle sport based on roller cycles connected to electronic timing, set to a backdrop of dance music, cheering crowds and MC.

She reached the nationals finals in 2011 in London, losing out to self styled Londoner `Miss Socks` in a pulsating final to a packed crowd. The Coventry girl lost the final by an agonising 0.6 seconds.

Now Hanson is turning her attentions to the shale of Hearsall Common and the newly revived Coventry Cycle Speedway club for her latest pedal powered thrills.

She has signed full membership forms for the club, who will race in the Midlands League in 2012, after four years in the wilderness. The team will race into action in the new Cycle Speedway season when entertaining Stoke Potters at Hearsall Common on Sunday 25th March.

And, she has her sights set on reaching the British Woman’s Cycle Speedway final at Newport, Wales, in front of an expected 1,000 plus spectators on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August.

Hanson is bowled over by the reception she received from the Coventry club after stumbling across the track whilst walking her dogs on Hearsall Common one Wednesday night last summer.

She contacted the club and attended practice the following Wednesday. Sarah takes up the story, “I was looked after very well on my first visit and briefed by the main members. They had a coach there, directing things. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the organisation, such as lending bikes to newbie’s.

“Then they got in touch and asked me to take part in a friendly match, which was a blast. It’s a fabulous sport, I wish I had found it sooner and I’m encouraging others to take it up too”.

Coventry Cycle Speedway coach Jez Hughes said “There’s no doubt with her bike handling skills, allied with her fantastic fitness, that Sarah could make a real impact on Cycle Speedway. We shall be encouraging her all the way”.