EAST Lancashire’s NAB Racing team may be the new cycling kids on the block but team manager Ross Miller is looking for a strong start when they mix it with the big boys this weekend.

The NAB squad, based in Whalley, compete in Liverpool this weekend at the Eddie Soens Memorial Race which will feature a host of top British teams and riders including defending champion Ian Wilkinson, from Barnoldswick and riding for Raleigh GAC.

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But Miller, who is still registered to compete himself, is not shying away from the challenges of a debut season and believes he has the right mix of riders to make an impression.

He said: “It is early days but I can only see that we are going to get some good results this year.

“What I have tried to do is select a group of guys that have got experience and youth. We’ve got some raw talent and we are bringing them on with the experienced ones.

“I want the team to be up there in the North West Regional Standings, I want to win it. If we can do that first year out of the box that would be great.

“We are doing it on a shoestring but we have enough background knowledge to tap into.”

The squad will be headlined by Scottish international star Alistair Rutherford who has joined from Wheelbase while a smattering of young talent will supplement the roster.

And Miller is hopeful Rutherford, who will lead the squad in Saturday’s race, can help NAB - who have the backing of Beacon bikes - make an impression.

“Alistair will class himself as an elite,” said Miller. “He has ridden the Commonwealth Games for Scotland and he has had some top results.”

Rutherford is also expected to represent the team on the track in the Revolution Series, which still has a round in Manchester to come, while the team are set to take part in the Chorley Grand Prix next month as well as a host of leading British races this summer including the Colne Grand Prix in July.

Meanwhile Wilkinson, one of a 12-strong Raleigh squad in the field this weekend, will be looking to retain the title he won impressively last year amid a high-class entry which also includes Padiham’s Simon Wilson who this year is racing for Polypipe.