Wolves have sprung a surprise with their final signing for the 2009 speedway season – Czech rider Hynek Stichauer.

The 21-year-old is hardly a familiar name on these shores – club owner Chris Van Straaten believes he’s never ridden in Britain.

But Van Straaten, having watched Stichauer finish sixth in last year’s prestigious Golden Ribbon Under-21 meeting in his homeland at Pardubice, reckons the rider has what it takes.

“I watched him race and I was impressed,” he said. “What impressed me most about this young rider was his keenness.

“He wants to race in Britain and is making it very much his priority in 2009.

“He’s a very competitive performer. He’s what I would call a ‘Wolves type’ of rider, all-action,” he added.

“I think he will go down well on the track and on the terraces.”

Stichauer comes in on a four-point assessed average to complete a cosmopolitan Parrys International Wolves line-up featuring seven different nationalities among its eight members – two Swedes and one each from Denmark, Britain, Australia, the USA, Poland and the Czech Republic.

He was close to a mid-season deal with Premier League Redcar last season, but the move collapsed because his assessed average at that level was too high.

Wolves checked out a number of other contenders before settling on their man. “We have spoken to other riders,” confirmed Van Straaten.

“There was a Polish rider we spoke to twice. But he didn’t think that the time was right to make a commitment to give 100 per cent to riding in Britain.

“I never feel inclined to persuade them if that’s the reason. They have to want to race for you.”

And he has no qualms about bringing in a relative unknown. “No-one had heard of Adam Skornicki when we pulled him in, or Ronnie Correy,” he said.

“It’s easy to bring in the name on everybody’s lips. But it’s not so easy to find a kid who can come in and develop.

“That’s part and parcel of keeping your eyes open as you see riders perform.”