Nellie the Imminent.. (newsflash Tuesday 30th July)

Injured PROFILE Rebel star Neil Collins , out of action since badly breaking his shoulder in two places in the Somerset Open Championship at Highbridge on June 7th , has declared himself fit to return to the side after practicing at Buxton last weekend.

With Neville Tatum , his replacement, still out of action following a viral infection and still troubled with the wrist injuries sustained in a crash at Hull, the return of Collins is timely. The Rebels looked like using rider-replacement for Tatum on Friday for their tough clash with Reading but Collins will now resume his No. 3 spot in the side.

Comments Collins, “ The decision to return is entirely mine. There has been no pressure whatsoever from the Somerset management who have allowed me to decide if I am ready for a track return or not. The shoulder has been getting better and better over the past few weeks and felt good when I practiced at Buxton on Sunday …so it’s up to me to get back into the scoring groove as quickly as possible.”

Collins celebrates 25 years in the sport this year with a Testimonial meeting on Friday September 6th which will feature a four team event plus match races between Michael Lee and brother Peter Collins.

The PROFILE Rebels will be hoping that their solid scoring heat leader will click back into form immediately. The club have, this week, signed Stuart Williams on loan from Reading and the Bristolian will share the No. 7 spot with Shane McCabe with Somerset becoming the first Premier Club to utilise this facility introduced in 2002 which in the main has been used by Elite League clubs having two Premier League riders sharing the reserve position.

The Racer's edge..?

The Somerset PROFILE Rebels have another tough task ahead of them on Friday night (August 2nd) when they have an important Premier League clash with Reading at the Oak Tree Arena.

Having gone down 57-33 when the sides met in Berkshire back in May they need a 25 point victory to secure the all important bonus point at stake and this is a tall order against the Racers who have recently strengthened their side with the signing of Andrew Appleton from Elite League champions Oxford.

They lie just below Somerset in the league tables so victory is important to increase the gap between the sides although the Berkshire club have meetings in hand over the PROFILE Rebels.

The Rebels will be using rider-replacement at No. 3 with Neil Collins not yet fit (see above) enough to resume his team spot and with his cover Neville Tatum still recovering from a nasty viral infection that has confined him to bed as well as still having problems with the wrist he injured at Hull.

After his superb showing last Friday against Exeter Stuart Williams retains his palace at No. 7 with Shane McCabe due to return to the side the following night in the challenge at Rye House. Williams will be mounted on a brand new bike his sponsor Alan Wright has bought for him off Reading skipper Phil Morris, who was pitside with the Rebels No. 7 last Friday, but this week will be on the opposite side of the pits riding against him.

Morris makes his third appearance of the season at the Oak Tree Arena having ridden in the Somerset Open in June and then used as a guest for Stoke notching up 16 points from six rides for the Potters featuring in some classic battles with Rebels No. 1 Mario Jirout.

Backing him up will be veteran racer David Mullett, who has already announced that this is his last season racing. The Kent racer, a former sheep farmer, has been on tip-top form in recent weeks after coming back from injury and he will pose a big threat to the Rebels.

Appleton has revelled in Racers colours since he switched leagues a few weeks back and has had experience of the Somerset circuit when he rode in the Open back in June. Riding in a second string berth he will test the Somerset side and will no doubt be a double figure scorer.

Hard riding Swede Anders Henriksson, the former Newport rider, is another capable of a big score. Was involved in a track fracas with England Grand Prix star Carl Stonehewer at Reading last week and is renowned for “taking no prisoners” with his riding.

The strength of the Racers side is also typified with Paul Clews on a 7 point plus average as a second string with the former Coventry mascot having established himself as a solid scorer now in his fifth season with the club.

At reserve the Racers have former Rebel Glenn Phillips who found himself surplus to requirements at parent club Isle of Wight at the start of the season. Actually signed for Wimbledon to race in the Conference League before getting his chance with Readiung following an injury to Aussie Brendon MacKay. He will relish being back at Highbridge where his partnership with Steve Bishop back in the first season in 2000 is well remembered especially in August when they were undefeated as a partnership.

Back from injury and scoring well is teenager Chris Schramm, who suffered a double break of the arm at Reading when the two sides met back in May. The youngster was signed from Conference League Peterborough, where he still turns out along side Rebels Shane McCabe, when fixtures allow.

One Rebel hoping for better fortunes this week will be Adam Allott who had a nightmare meeting last week against Exeter suffering two exclusions and ending the night pointless. His new bike ,bought for him by sponsors Whitepack Network Services Ltd, should have arrived in time for Friday’s clash with the Buxton based teenager planning to try it out after the meeting at Sheffield on Thursday before using it against Reading on Friday.

TEAMS : Somerset PROFILE Rebels (in association with Brean Leisure Park)

Mario Jirout; 2. Graeme Gordon; 3. Neil Collins; 4. Steve Bishop; 5. Glenn Cunningham; 6. Adam Allott; 7. Stuart Williams;

READING Racers :

Dave Mullett; 2. Paul Clews; 3. Phil Morris; 4. Andrew Appleton; 5. Anders Henriksson; 6. Glenn Phillips; 7. Chris Schramm.

First race 7.30 pm. Parade 7.25 pm.

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FREE KIDS....Get yours here ! ! !

On Friday (26th July) Somerset start a KIDS GO FREE campaign . All children UNDER 15 will be admitted free during the summer holidays at all home meetings up to and including Wednesday September 4th. The scheme ends on that date so the Neil Collins Testimonial on Friday September 6th will see a return to normal admission prices and criteria from that night.

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Track troubles..

They say that Rome was not built in a day. That is the way that the Rebels are looking at the track relaying that they have had to undertake in recent weeks. Since the Somerset Open on June 7th which was run on a very wet day the track has not been the same. A lot of remedial work has been done and over the past two weeks has been totally re-laid. Naturally with baking hot days being able to get the surface to bind has been a difficulty. Despite laying tons and tons of limestone and red dust and packing this in the track on bends one and two cut up badly in the Exeter match on Friday.

The Rebels management were planning to bring in a track expert this week to advise on the best and quickest way to remedy the troubles to get the Oak Tree circuit back to the one that has been highly acclaimed. Wolverhampton track supreme “Terry the Track” will be on hand to offer advice to the Rebels on Friday.

Last Friday’s clash with Exeter saw the Rebels bring off a last gasp win taking the lead for the only time in the meeting just at the death with a heat 15 maximum heat win to secure a 47-43 victory.

Whilst Mario Jirout secured his second maximum of the season, albeit a paid one, and Glenn Cunningham raced to four superb wins, the match winner was reserve Stuart Williams.

Having thrown away his first win in Rebels colours in heat 2 at Exeter when he crashed on the last bend when on a 5-1 with Adam Allott, Williams took the second race on Friday after Allott had been handicapped 15 metres after yet another tape break. With his clutch totally packing up in his next ride this may have been the root cause of his heat two exclusion. The Sheffield loanee should take delivery of his new bike provided by sponsors Whitepack Network Services Ltd and he will be trying it out after the meeting at Sheffield on Thursday then using it for the first time in the Rebels clash with Reading on Friday and in the away clash at Rye House on Saturday.

Stuart Williams will also be mounted on a new bike that his sponsor Alan Wright has bought for him off Phil Morris , who was pitside helping Stuart on Friday but this week will be on the opposite side of the pits coming up against him with Williams retained in the No. 7 spot after his display against Exeter. He will be boosted by having scored an immaculate 18 point maximum for Carmarthen last Sunday.

Shane McCabe returns to the side at Rye House aiming to regain his berth with his shoulder now seemingly all okay after his crash at Sheffield.

Although this Friday was due to have been the date that Neil Collins had set for his track return the injured Rebel looks unlikely to be back with a visit to the hospital due to make sure that the shoulder is strong enough. With his replacement Neville Tatum sidelined as well with a nasty viral infection that has seen him confined to bed and with his wrist injuries not fully 100% the Rebels are having to cope without either of them. The Rebels will use rider-replacement on Friday with Seemond Stephens lined-up as the guest at Rye House on Saturday. Then hopefully either Collins (see above)may be back for the visit of the Isle of Wight the following Friday or if not Tatum may be fit again.