After effortlessly moving through to the Quarter Finals of the Knock Out Cup over the weekend it is a return to Premier League action this week for the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels.

First up the Rebels have unfinished (or should that be ‘un-started?’) business with the Birmingham Brummies on Wednesday evening [30^th], this being the re-staging of the match that was called off two weeks ago due to the referee deeming Birmingham’s Perry Barr track unfit to ride.

Then on Friday [2^nd May] the Rebels welcome the Scunthorpe Scorpions for their first ever visit to the Oak Tree Arena following the Scorpions elevation from the Conference League to the Premier League during the winter.

For their first season at the higher level, Scunthorpe have put together a team that many pundit feel will give more than a good account of themselves as the season unfolds.

The team is spearheaded by three riders all of whom have, in recent years, competed in the Elite League, but have been tempted back to the Premier League by the Scunthorpe promotion.   Andrew Moore, Magnus Karlsson and Richard Hall, being the trio in question, Hall having won a Championship medal in 2006 whilst with Peterborough whilst Moore and Karlsson more than held their own with Swindon and Wolverhampton respectively, and both have proved themselves to be more than capable performers around the Oak Tree Arena.

A rider well known to Somerset fans and one who has probably visited the Oak Tree Arena more than most over the years is Carl Wilkinson.  Best remembered for his years with Newport, Wilkinson seemed to move up a gear last season when with Newcastle, and his experience of riding at Somerset could prove vital in Friday’s match.

One rider for whom 2008 has been a torrid year so far is Scunthorpe’s Swede, Viktor Bergström.  Brought into the side on an assessed 8 point average, Bergström has found points hard to come by, so much so that he is due to drop into one of the reserve berths although this has coincided with an recent improvement in his performances for the Scorpions.

Two riders who served the Scorpions well in the Conference League, Benji Compton and Byron Bekker, have been rewarded with being included in Scunthorpe’s Premier League line up, and although both starting out at reserve, Friday’s match could well see Compton move into the main body of the team as a result of the new averages that were recently announced.

The Rebels have no injury worries to report ahead of this week’s matches, but have yet to decide upon their riding order for the visit of Scunthorpe. 

Giants Go To Tame Wildcats

Somerset Speedway’s junior team, the Somerset Giants, travel to Conference League Weymouth next Saturday [3^rd May] to take on the Wildcats in a specially arranged challenge match.

“This will be a good test for some of our junior riders as Weymouth have assembled a pretty useful looking squad this year,” said Giants team manager Ray Dickson. “Hopefully, as it is a Bank Holiday weekend, a good number of Somerset fans will make the trip down to Weymouth to support the lads, if the weather is kind to us then fans could make a day of it, spending the day in Weymouth itself before coming to the match itself in the evening.”

As a couple of the Giants’ squad also ride for Weymouth in the Conference League, and in order to make it a more competitive fixture, the Giants will include a couple of guest riders who have Conference League experience, the pick of these being ex-Rebel Danny Warwick and Mark Simmonds, the ex-Exeter Falcon who gave up the sport some four years ago, but is making a comeback this year and is a member of the Plymouth Devils Conference League squad for 2008.

Revised Giants Line Up (Conference grading in brackets) (As of 2nd May)

Danny Warwick has injury to hand and Jack Roberts is guesting for Birmingham  

1) Shaun Harmatiuk (USA); 2) Marc Andrews (1); 3) Mark Simmonds (9); 4) Ben Taylor (); 5) Andrew Bargh (7); 6) James Williams (1); 7) Andy Braithwaite (1); Team Managers; Ray Dickson & Kevin Brown

Rebels In The Community

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels went out into the local Community last week when rider Jordan Frampton visited the King Alfred School Holiday Club.  The visit was arranged as part of the Bradford Building Supplies ‘Speedway In The Community’ Scheme and saw Frampton give the children an insight into the sport as well as answering the many questions they asked of him and inviting the children to visit the Oak Tree Arena and see the Rebels in action.

Should any local Community or Youth Group wish to find out more about the ‘Speedway In The Community’ Scheme, they can do so by calling Somerset Promoter Mike Golding on 01202-775589.

Up For The Cup!

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels set off on the 2008 Knock Out Cup trail this weekend with a first round tie against the Newcastle Diamonds, the home leg being at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday [25^th] and the second leg at Newcastle’s Brough Park two days later.

Having been losing finalists in each of the last two seasons, the Rebels will be looking to go one better this time around, but Newcastle will provide Somerset with stiff opposition as Rebel captain Simon Walker acknowledges;

“We need to build up as big a lead as possible on Friday ahead of Sunday’s return fixture,” he said, “Newcastle will be tough to beat on their own track, so the greater the lead we can build up on Friday the more pressure it will put on them for the second leg.”

Like Somerset, Newcastle have built a team this year without an out and out number 1 rider, feeling that strength in depth is the key to success in 2008.  In saying this, however, their top two of Josef Franc and Christian Henry showed last season that they are not to be underestimated as their third place at last season’s Premier League Pairs Championship at Somerset proved.

The Diamonds have a solid back up to their top two, but will be without the experienced George Stancl on Friday, the Czech recovering from a broken collar bone sustained in a freak accident when on the slowing down lap at a recent meeting and Newcastle will operate the rider replacement facility in his absence.  They do, however, have an ex-Rebel in their line up in Jason King who spent the first half of the 2005 season in Somerset colours.

A telling factor in the match could well come at reserve, where Somerset will track the experienced combination of Simon Walker and Brent Werner against Sean Stoddart and Jamie Robertson, neither of whom have shown well at the Oak Tree Arena on past visits.

Somerset have no injury worries from last Friday’s nail-biting match against Birmingham, and are expected to name an unchanged line up.

Teams (Provisional;

Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels 1) Jason Doyle (9.63); 2) Henning Loof (5.00); 3) Emil Kramer (9.10); 4) Stephan Katt (); 5) Jordan Frampton (); 6) Simon Walker [c] (4.80); 7) Brent Werner (4.87)

Newcastle ‘Sapphire Engineering’ Diamonds 1) Josef Franc (7.83); 2) Rider Replacement – George Stancl (7.55); 3) Christian Henry (8.21); 4) Ben Powell (4.58); 5) Jason King (5.55); 6) Sean Stoddart (4.31); 7) Jamie Robertson (3.15)

Fiasco at Birmingham

Somerset promoter, Mike Golding, has issued the following statement regarding the abandonment of last night’s meeting against Birmingham at Perry Barr due to the track conditions being deemed unfit for racing;

“On arrival at the track both teams did their track walk and although conditions appeared tricky it was felt they should sort themselves out after a few races.” “At 7pm Jason Lyons asked the track man if anything could be done to improve conditions as the track had suffered heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday but none on race day and fresh layer of shale was very sodden and had not mixed with existing product.”

“At this point all Somerset riders were changed and warming up their bikes ready for the off and for the next hour or so we watched as their track men attempted to blade the track, firstly to the inside then to the outside.”  “With hindsight they should have left it alone, which was their original decision, but having been asked to do something, they in fact made it worse.”  “Large piles of dirt out by the fence entering turns 1 and 3 proved a concern to the riders and the referee was losing patience with the Birmingham track staff who he felt had at that point confused themselves and did not know which way to go.”

“The referee kept in contact with both team captains and Simon Walker [Somerset captain] was of the opinion that dirt out by the fence needed to be moved as this was on the racing line as was the dirt on the inside from the start to the 1^st turn.”  “To compound the problems, the clutch then burnt out on the only operative tractor as it attempted to move the mud piles and with the time now 20.40 and with Birmingham having a very strict 22.00 curfew, the referee was rightly concerned that the match would not be completed.”  “Work still had to be done on the track as Simon [Walker] pointed out to the referee, but it was the referee’s decision and his alone, to call a halt.”

“Somerset did not prepare the track and did not ask for the work to be done on it, which made it worse, so, I fail to see how anyone can blame our team captain or any of the Somerset riders for what happened?”

“We have agreed with Tony Mole, the Birmingham promoter, that Somerset fans holding ‘rain off’ tickets can use them either for the re staging (likely to be 30^th April) of the match at Perry Barr, or at Somerset’s home match with Birmingham this Friday, but I would stress that will be the only opportunity to use them at the Oak Tree Arena.”  “Any Sponsors or Staff who travelled to Birmingham who does not normally pay at Somerset should present their tickets at the turnstiles for a refund.”

Rebels Miss Out On Trophy Semi-Final Spot

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have missed out on a place in the Premier Trophy semi- finals by virtue of Reading’s greater point’s difference after the two sides both finished on 10 points at the conclusion of the group matches.

Reading went into their final match at the Isle of Wight last night knowing that a defeat by less than 22 points would be sufficient, and although they never looked like winning the meeting, they kept the scores close throughout, finally losing by just 8 points, 50-42, and booking their place in the semi-finals.

“It’s gutting to get that close only to be denied at the last,” said Somerset captain Simon Walker, “We matched Reading, a team that many were tipping to be in the hunt honours, throughout the group stages, the only difference being between our respective matches at the Isle of Wight.”

The Rebels will be looking for a good start to their Premier League matches this week as they take on Birmingham home and away, the first of these matches being tonight at Perry Barr, the ‘Brummies’ visiting the Oak Tree Arena for the return match on Friday [18th].

Premier Trophy - Group 4 Final Standings

Riders Get Boost From SREF

The Somerset Riders Equipment Fund presented Simon Walker and Jordan Frampton with cheques for £100 each prior to Friday’s meeting with Reading.  The presentation was made on behalf of the SREF Committee by injured Rebel star Ritchie Hawkins, who receive a cheque himself for £268 being the proceeds of a raffle held at Somerset’s Press Day last month.

“I know that all the guys in the team really appreciate the donations made by SREF,” said Hawkins, “Di Phillips and her team put a lot of work and effort into helping to raise the money that they give to the riders, but that just emphasises the type of spirit we have here at Somerset, it runs right through the club from the Promotion, the riders and right through to the fans.”

Rebels Start Premier League Campaign

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels will be looking to put last week’s disappointing defeats at the Isle of Wight and at home to Reading behind them as they face the Birmingham Brummies twice in three days as they start their Premier League campaign.

Whilst the team that finishes top of the table will be crowned the 2008 Premier League Champions, there is the added incentive of potential promotion to the Elite League for one of the top four teams once the league season has been completed.

These top four teams will play off for the right to meet the losers of the Elite League relegation play off, the winners of that match up earning the right to compete in the Elite League in 2009.

But that is many months away yet, and the only thoughts pre-occupying the Rebels this week will be to get their bid for the title off to the best possible start against the ‘Brummies.’

The first of the two matches will take place at Birmingham’s Perry Barr track on Wednesday [16^th], the return being at the Oak Tree Arena two days later on Friday 18^th.

Birmingham have made a good start to the season so far, heading their Premier Trophy group and go into these matches on the back of a stunning away win at King’s Lynn, thus ending the Norfolk side’s unbeaten home run that had stretched back over 98 matches.

To counter this, however, Birmingham have suffered horrendous injuries problems, their exciting Canadian Kyle Legault currently on the sidelines nursing a broken femur, he quickly followed in the injury stakes by the experienced Phil Morris suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in a crash during the Brummies recent win at Mildenhall.  Add to this the fact that second string James Birkinshaw was injured in the same incident that claim Legault, and you can see that the Birmingham pits probably more resembles a scene from TV’s ‘Casualty’ than anything else!

Whilst Birmingham have used the rider replacement facility to cover for Legault’s absence, they will bring in a guest riders in place of Morris and Birkinshaw, though they are hopeful that the latter will be fit to return to the team this week. 

As far as the Rebels are concerned, with new averages taking effect for Friday’s home meeting, it will see a change in their riding order with Simon Walker and Brent Werner dropping to reserve, Jordan Frampton and Stephan Katt moving up into the main body of the team to replace them.  Henning Loof retains his place in the main body of the team by virtue of the fact that he has yet to do sufficient meetings for his assessed average to change.

Following both Wednesday and Friday’s main matches, the Somerset Giant will take on the Birmingham Bulls in Academy Challenge matches, both matches being over 6 heats.

Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels line up; 

16^th April v Birmingham (a) – 1) Jason Doyle (7.22); 2) Henning Loof (5.00); 3) Emil Kramer (8.19); 4) Simon Walker [c] (5.07); 5) Brent Werner (5.84); 6) Stephan Katt [r] (4.08); 7) Jordan Frampton [r] (4.89). Team Managers – Steve Bishop & Garry May

18^th April v Birmingham (h) – 1) Jason Doyle (9.63); 2) Henning Loof (5.00); 3) Emil Kramer (9.10); 4) Stephan Katt (6.71); 5) Jordan Frampton (6.13); 6) Simon Walker [c] [r] (4.80); 7) Brent Werner [r] (4.87).  Team Managers – Steve Bishop & Garry May