All up nine riders from the Hunter will be contesting the 18-rider event with the next generation of young talent including Cessnock’s Issac Hawes, Blackalls Park teenager Mitchell Cluff, Kane Lawrence, Alan Macdonald and Matthew Pickering all in the running.

However, current Australian and back-to-back NSW champion Rohan Tungate will not be on the starting line to defend his state title with his return from Europe delayed by the signing of a new contract with Polish club KZ Orzel Lodz.

But there are no shortage of Australian and state title holders in the field with Masters and Cowra’s Todd Kurtz both former Australian champions,  Campton a former NSW and Queensland title holder and Jack Holder the 2015 NSW champion.

One of the riders to beat will be hometrack favourite Matthew Gilmore who has claimed multiple junior Australian and world titles and is second full year in the senior ranks with the Hunter’s exciting teenagers Hawes and Cluff.

Campton closed the UK season in irresistible form playing a huge part in his club Working Comets winning the Championship league title, Knockout Cup and Championship Shield.

In a sign of his importance to the team he was the first rider re-signed for the 2019.

“After much speculation throughout the year about where he’d end up, we’re delighted to have re-signed Mason Campton,” club owner Laura Morgan told the Times and Star newspaper.

“Mason is where he wants to be and he’s very confident he can still improve.

“He’s someone that fans would want nailed down because he’s become a favourite.

“As a massive part of our success last season it would have been such a shame to have lost him to another club.”

Campton secured his all-important visa points with second in this month’s Queensland solo title, his first engagement back in Australia.

Kurri Kurri Speedway Club opens its season by hosting the Tasmanian Solo Speedway Championship on Saturday, December 8.