BERWICK’S speedway Bandits, having had a week off from racing, return to the Shielfield Park track on Saturday night, writes Lawrence Heppell.
The opposition will be provided by Redcar Bears, with both teams aiming to extend their season by reaching the final of the season-climaxing Premier League Challenge Trophy.
The home-track Bandits will have Australian Nick Morris in their colours yet again, while Redcar offer a full-strength squad. The result of the clash will go a long way towards deciding the winners of the Northern section of the PCT, who look likely to face Southern section leaders Rye House Rockets.
Should Bandits win through, their home leg of the Final will be at Shielfield Park on Saturday, October 27th, but should they lose out then this weekend’s match with the Bears will ring down the curtain on the Shielfield season.
Not such good news has been received about Berwick’s club captain, who has not raced since a heavy crash at Scunthorpe on July 27. The extend of his injuries, and a wish to take up a good job offer outside the sport, means that Lee Complin – a superb servant to the Bandits since joining the cause in 2010 – has this week announced his retirement from racing.
“Obviously, the news comes as a big blow to all of us, but especially Lee of course,” said team boss Ian Rae.
“We’ll be doing something to honour his service, some sort of presentation, of course. But to have to end after a crash he was even able to walk away from, that’s so tough.”
Teams
BANDITS: 1, Nick Morris, 2, Micky Dyer, 3, Robin Aspegren, 4, David Bellego, 5, Sebastian Alden, 6, Klaus Jacobsen, 7, Nicki Barrett.
REDCAR BEARS: 1, Ulrich Ostergaard, 2, Carl Wilkinson, 3, Kevin Doolan, 4, Aaron Summers, 5, Matej Kus, 6, Max Dilger, 7, Jade Mudgway.