Captain "crangtastic" Completes Coventry Storm 2015

[Main Man]

LUKE Crang will take over as Coventry Storm captain and No.1 for the 2015 National League season.
Crang completes a much-changed City Gearboxes Storm side and has the potential to be one of the top performers in the league based on his improvement throughout his relatively short time in the sport so far.
He returns to Brandon on a 7.37 average which may well have been higher but for him missing the second half of last season with a shoulder injury, his performances in the early part of the campaign having helped the Storm to cement a play-off place.
Manager Laurence Rogers said: “Luke is convinced he’s ready to make the step up, he’ll start as our No.1 and I also think he’s the most outspoken one in the team and will therefore also be the captain.
“He’s pleased to take on that role and do what he can to help the younger riders. Although he still hasn’t got much experience in speedway, he does have quite a lot of experience in motorcycle sport as a whole, and he has good family behind him for help and support.
“Luke had some bad luck with injuries last season when he was riding in the Premier League, but he posted a 7.37 average and he had some outstanding displays.
“I also expect some friendly rivalry between himself and Dan (Greenwood) for that No.1 spot, they’ll both be going for it and it will all be good for the club.”
Crang is one of three returning riders from 2014, along with fellow club assets Dan Greenwood and Martin Knuckey, as the Storm’s top-end trio from last season move on to the next stage in their careers.
Former skipper James Sarjeant will be concentrating on his Elite League racing for the Buildbase Bees and a Premier League team place with Glasgow, and Stefan Nielsen and Ollie Greenwood will both be racing in the PL too.
Nielsen is ineligible for the National League having signed for Ipswich and although Greenwood could still race in the NL, it was felt his 9.22 average would take up too big a portion of the 36-point overall limit. The British Under-19 Champion has subsequently joined fellow Friday track Peterborough in the PL.
Rogers added: “It’s a great shame our top three from last year can’t be fitted in but with the lowering of the points limit, we knew it would be tough to have a rider with an average of much over eight, although some clubs have gone that way.
“We had to let Ollie know what was happening early, and it’s a shame that at the age of 19 he’s really being penalised for his success.
“But from our point of view we’ve got to rebuild and grow again, and we felt a line-up with more strength in depth was the way to go rather than one big-hitter with a load more three-pointers at the bottom end, and hopefully that will be a winning formula.”
CITY GEARBOXES STORM 2015: Luke Crang ©, Dan Greenwood, Darryl Ritchings, Martin Knuckey, Rob Shuttleworth, Stefan Farnaby, Conor Dwyer.

[mc131]

Good to see storm no1 is with Berwick in Pl