But for evergreen Money Centre Stars skipper Tom Topinka, the weekend starts early.

The 34-years-young Czech ace explained: "I'm at Berwick guesting on Saturday. Being a guest helps.

"Last week I was at Scunthorpe, where I've never been and it gives me the chance to see the track. It's definitely a bonus if you've got the free time."

He added on his team: "We're definitely getting better now everyone's settled in."

"We've got a lot of new and young boys in the team, we said that before the season. I can see improvement in the boys, and everyone's still well up for it."

Lynn have just had a rare Wednesday without a scheduled fixture, and Topinka said: "I went home for the weekend, sometimes you get the chance for that during the season, sometimes you don't.

"Everyone does their own thing. Some can go home who are based locally, some are further away. Rusty Harrison is based at Workington and Kevin Doolan is based at Sheffield.

"Sometimes you go shooting or play squash in between meetings to take your mind off speedway.

"Then you try and get ready for meetings.

"At the beginning of the season you try to get practice when you can.

"The boys sometimes try and get a guest booking. I've had two already, when I think I got one in the whole of last year.

The Stars struggled early-season, and Topinka added: "Definitely the weather has played its part in our early home form. That and a lot of new boys in the team.

"The track needs some getting used to. The track was different every time because of the weather and it was not giving us home advantage.

"Buster Chapman did his best to get it prepared in the best possible condition.

"In the last couple of meetings the track has been perfect."

Going out of the cups early has taken some getting used to, said Topinka.

"We weren't happy about it, but there's nothing we can do about it, it's all done.

"We have to look forward in the long run and do our best in the league.

"At the start of the season we're not saying 'We're not going to win this and that'.

"We try to win all competitions.

"For us, the more we win, the more meetings we have for the club and promotion, and the more points and more money we earn as riders."

The bonus point for an away win has seemed to make a difference.

"This year has been different, there are a lot of teams who seem to be winning away from home," he added.

"We've drawn at home to Edinburgh, and in the Premier Trophy lost at home to Birmingham, and we're not used to that, but we're not the only ones it's happened to.

"We're not in too bad a position at the moment, we've got three home meetings in hand.

"Possibly some teams think we're not as good as we used to be.

"It's down to the team to prove them wrong."