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Berwick V Leicester (pl) Saturday 11th (with Added Eddie)


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A breaking story on Bandits' website......

 

Berwick’s speedway Bandits, sponsored by New Holland Agriculture, have been forced to effect major surgery on their squad.

 

Star rider Ricky Ashworth has been sidelined by the affer-effects of a severe concussion suffered in a track crash at Glasgow a month ago, and has apparently no immediate prospect of returning to the saddle while under neurological scrutiny.

 

“As a result, we have replaced Ricky in our line-up by signing 26-year-old Eddie Kennett, who is quite simply, one of Britain’s top riders” said team manager Ian Rae.

 

“Eddie has raced in two British Grand Prix events at Cardiff (2005 and 2008) has been a member of Britain’s World Team Cup squad and is among the favourites for Monday night’s British Championship Final at Wolverhampton, live on SkySports TV”

 

“He comes to us with an amazing Premier League average of 10.42 – the highest in the whole League and the only rider over the ten-point mark. He’s that good! Obviously, Eddie will spearhead our renewed challenge for the League title”.

 

“We feel we owe it to the Berwick public to offer them the best team we can get on the track” said club director John Anderson. “Having to lose Ricky Ashworth in a horrible crash, and his continued absence from the team costing us so dearly to date – by seeing we are bringing Eddie Kennett up here as a Bandit, we hope our speedway-going public will respond, and turn out to watch him go!”

 

Unfortunately, to accommodate Kennett, the Bandits will require to shed another rider from the squad to bring the team’s total CMA (Calculated Match Averages) below the ceiling of 42.50 points imposed by the sport’s rulers.

 

“This has meant we are required to take one of our assets out of the squad for now, and the unlucky rider who has the average that fits – no other reason -- has to be Alex Edberg” explained Ian Rae.

 

“It goes without saying that both Ricky Ashworth, when fit to return to racing, and Alex will be welcome back here at any time, and could hopefully return to race for us again in future. Ricky has made it clear he fully understands the uncertainty of his return to fitness made the changes inevitable, and still feels very much a Bandit at heart!”

 

To complete the line-up, the Bandits are pleased to welcome 22-year-old Paul Starke to the club.

 

Paul, from Bishops Frome, Worcestershire raced with distinction at Newcastle in the latter months of 2012, but has been unable to regain a place in the Premier League until now. He has meanwhile been racing at National League level for Dudley.

 

Saturday’s teams (Berwick line-up subject to BSPA approval):

 

Berwick ‘New Holland Bandits’: 1. Eddie Kennett, 2. David Bellego (rider-replacement), 3. Robin Aspregen, 4. Matty Wethers, 5. Kozza Smith (captain), 6. Paul Starke, 7. Nicki Barrett

 

Leicester Lions: 1. Kauko Niemenen 2. Lasse Bjerre (rider-replacement), 3. Kevin Doolan, 4. Jan Gravessen, 5. Magnus Karlsson, 6. Simon Nielsen, 7. James Sarjeant

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Wow!

Once again, I didn't see that one coming.

 

Gutted for Ricky, he has been brilliant for the club, hopefully we'll see him back again.

 

It's also a bit hard on Alex, he's been unfairly singled out when really a missing number 1 is what has cost us.

 

What a fantastic move by the promotion to address the team issues though.

Once again, a spectacular effort.

 

I really looking forward to Saturday now!

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A good job all round by Berwick. No reaction to their too-many local critics when they lost a couple of matches, but clearly wheels were spinning behind the scenes. No rushed-out statements about 'changes will be made' but now we have an announcement when everything has been signed, sealed and delivered.

 

The people who mock Berwick's media relations might want to ponder on how well this has been handled, without leaks or rumours to dilute the news when broken.

 

Further, although Eddie Kennett is coming in on a plus-ten average (very few PL No 1 riders are even within a point of that) no over-the-top statements about him in the website news. But I'll say this -- he is an even-bigger capture for a PL club that Simon Stead was!

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It's also a bit hard on Alex, he's been unfairly singled out when really a missing number 1 is what has cost us.

 

 

 

That's true, although statement above makes it clear to get Kennett in, another rider had to be sacrificed and Edberg's was the only average that fitted. They also say he could hopefully return to race for them in future.

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The place looked awful when sheffield were there. Low crowd, terrible racing and came close to dropping points against a Sheffield side which shouldn't be any trouble on the road. This just turns it around IMO and makes Berwick look like a complete package. If they can get everyone riding to their true form, then I very much doubt they'll be dropping any points around Shiefield that's for sure!

 

 

After all the trouble in the winter and the recent struggles, I really hope this is the turning point for the bandits.

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That's true, although statement above makes it clear to get Kennett in, another rider had to be sacrificed and Edberg's was the only average that fitted. They also say he could hopefully return to race for them in future.

That statement is a little bit misleading,any other rider in the team could have been dropped to fit in Paul Starke if it is about averages.Wish Ricky a speedy recovery and hope that we an see him in Bandit colours again, he create a good impression and certainly won the fans over.
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That statement is a little bit misleading,any other rider in the team could have been dropped to fit in Paul Starke if it is about averages.Wish Ricky a speedy recovery and hope that we an see him in Bandit colours again, he create a good impression and certainly won the fans over.

 

So, who would you have sacrificed to allow Kennett to join the cause, if not Alex?

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