Cradley is poised to get its adopted speedway team back again – for just a fortnight.

The world-famous Heathens lost their Dudley Wood track more than a decade ago when the stadium was sold for redevelopment.

The search for a new Heathens site goes on – but last year Cradley found a side again when the touring USA Dream Team, having operated from Birmingham on its initial visit in 2005, was based in the town.

The 2007 tourists, who will be in the country from April 4-16, will again run from Cradley – and for the third successive year have been sponsored by Tividale firm Barrett Steel.

“It’s good to have the speedway back in Cradley. Everyone local to Cradley appreciates it,” said Heathens fan Sophie Hill, who has helped with UK administration for the tours. “You would get people walking past who would see the speedway paraphernalia, come up and start talking.

“There is a DVD on the history of Cradley speedway and they even feature on that. They’ve become Cradley celebrities in their own right!”

It’s the third successive UK tour for the Dream Team, mostly comprising young hopefuls out to experience European conditions and catch the eye of promoters.

Chris Kerr, the first tour’s top man, is now with Premier League Redcar and will be number eight for the Parrys International Wolves in 2007.

And Matt Browne, from last year’s Dream Team squad, has landed himself a contract with Swedish side Team Bikab.

Six dates have been pencilled in so far for this year’s tourists, including one at Monmore against the newly-named Academy side, Wolverhampton Predators.

The squad currently has seven riders – with one more to be named – and includes former Coventry rider Bryan Yarrow.

He had an unsuccessful spell with the Bees in 2004 but is still only 22 and hopes to earn another chance in Britain.

Tim Gomez, 18, and the Facchini brothers Neil and Dale, 21 and 18 respectively, have signed up for their third Dream Team tour. Making their debuts are two riders with contrasting experience in Kenny Ingalls and Tommy Hedden.

Ingalls, 19, was fourth in the USA under-21 championship while Hedden, 33, had a big season in 2006 to finish fifth in the senior title race behind such major names as Greg Hancock, of Reading, and Wolves’ Billy Hamill.

The seventh, newly-named member of the squad is 19-year-old J.t. Mabry from Napa, California.

Confirmed dates: April 6, Weymouth; 8, Scunthorpe; 9, Wolverhampton (likely to be six-heat mini-meeting); 12, Sheffield (likely to be second-half); 13, Plymouth; 15, Buxton.

By Tim Hamblin