Somerset 2008

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Confirmed signings so far:

1..Brent Werner
2..Jordan Frampton
3..Simon Walker

Not in riding order.

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Tom Hedley was announced tonight as the final signing for the Rebels. The team lines-up as follows (not in any order):-

Jason Doyle
Emil Kramer
Ritchie Hawkins
Simon Walker
Jordan Frampton
Stephan Katt
Tom Hedley

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Ritchie Hawkins has suffered badly broken thigh & broken arm riding an indoor event in Germany this weekend.

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wacks said:

Ritchie Hawkins has suffered badly broken thigh & broken arm riding an indoor event in Germany this weekend.

That's a shame for Ritchie . He does seem to be one of these unlucky riders who gets hurt regularly .

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And now leaves Somerset with the same problem King's Lynn were facing.

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RITCHIE Hawkins is set to be ruled out for the entire 2008 season after sustaining multiple injuries in a crash in Germany.
Hawkins was competing in an indoor event at Kiel at the weekend and has already undergone an operation to pin a broken thigh bone. His other injuries include a broken right arm and wrist, damage to his left arm and wrist, and a broken ankle.
Hawkins was also concussed in the accident and underwent a precautionary brain scan in hospital, where he was fortunately given the all-clear.
Despite the severity of the injuries, Hawkins is reported to be in good spirits and was visited in hospital by his Somerset team-mate Simon Walker, who was also racing in the meeting. It is not known when he will be transferred back to the UK.
Somerset promoter Mike Golding said: "I know he is getting the best possible treatment and attention in Germany, but hopefully he will be able to travel back to the UK to continue his recovery in the not too distant future, and I know all Rebels fans would like me to wish him as speedy a recovery as possible.
"As far as the team are concerned, Ritchie's injury leaves a big hole that needs to be filled. The problems is, however, that most of the riders who could have slotted in to Ritchie's position in the team have been signed up now by other clubs, and it leaves precious few options as to his possible replacement.
"Somerset fans can rest assured, though, that I will be exploring every avenue in order to fill the breach left by Ritchie's injury."

From www.speedwayworld.tv

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shootingstar said:

And now leaves Somerset with the same problem King's Lynn were facing.

FORMER American World Cup rider Brent Werner is returning to the sport after quitting last May.
Werner started the 2007 season as skipper of new Premier League club Birmingham, but handed over the captaincy to Jason Lyons after the early weeks before then leaving the club less than two months into the campaign.
His career appeared to be over as he had lost his enthusiasm for racing, but after time out he has now agreed to return with Somerset.
Werner impressed when racing in an open meeting at Newport in January, and has now answered the Rebels' call to replace the injured Ritchie Hawkins, who will be out for the season after his crash in Kiel last weekend.
Somerset promoter Mike Golding said: "Although there were a number of names in the frame as possible replacements for Ritchie, Brent’s undoubted experience was a crucial factor.
"Basically the Somerset team is a fairly young set of riders, so Brent’s experience will add something else to the team.
"I know a number of fans may be somewhat surprised at Brent’s signing, especially given his relatively poor form at the start of last season that prompted him to take a break from the sport, but having spoken to him, I was very impressed with his enthusiasm and his wish to get back into full time speedway again.
"Brent really wanted to ride for Somerset once he had heard of Ritchie’s unfortunate crash and injuries, so much so that he turned down other offers to ride for the Rebels. Once I had spoken to him, we concluded a deal in less than two minutes!"

From www.speedwayworld.tv

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wacks said:

Ritchie Hawkins has suffered badly broken thigh & broken arm riding an indoor event in Germany this weekend.

Somerset are holding a fundraiser for Richie this Friday (9th Feb).

From Swindon's website:

Ritchie Hawkins (injured Somerset Speedway rider) Fundraiser, with cabaret from Diane Shaw (Back by popular request ), disco and meal.
for just £22.50
or just £7.50 per person without food. (£5 of which will be donated to Ritchie)

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SOMERSET are the latest British club to announce a tie-up with a team in Poland, as they have secured an arrangement with Czestochowa.
The Rebels are the first Premier League side to formulate such a scheme, which is initially intended to benefit their junior riders and follows Czestochowa's visit to the Oak Tree Arena early last season.
Czestochowa president Marian Maslanka was pleased with the British club's hospitality and the competitive practice which was arranged in matches for his riders against Somerset and Stoke, and the Rebels are now set to benefit by making the return trip.
Somerset promoter Mike Golding said: "The initial plan is for us to take six of our Academy League riders to Czestochowa and possibly one other track, either Opole or Rybnik, for two days of intensive practice and training.
"The aim is to give these younger riders an insight into how things are done in Poland, where they place a great emphasis not only on the physical fitness of the riders, but in their technical and mechanical knowledge as well.
"The tracks the lads will be visiting are totally different from those they are used to here in England, so hopefully it will help their progress as riders.
"This is too good an opportunity for us to pass up and I am very keen for our junior riders to make the most of this exceptional offer by the Czestochowa club."

From www.speedwayworld.tv

Great news for the lads.

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It would appear that Somerset have more problems with their team building, as speculation is mounting that Tom Hedley, despite being announced as signing, has decided to stay home in Australia this year.

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kevh said:

It would appear that Somerset have more problems with their team building, as speculation is mounting that Tom Hedley, despite being announced as signing, has decided to stay home in Australia this year.

Yup:

www.british-speedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.1316

Edit: they apparently have 6.19 points left, but with Berwick also in the hunt for a similar standard rider, could we have two teams starting the season with a guest?

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Official press release about Henning:

Monday 10th March
Rebels Sign Loof

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have signed German Henning Loof as replacement for Tom Hedley who had informed the club last month that he had decided against coming over to the UK for the 2008 season.

For Loof, this will be his second attempt to try and establish himself in British speedway after having to abort a proposed team place with Newcastle a few years ago when it transpired that the 24 year old had ridden two matches in the Danish Elite League which moved his assessed average to 8.00, which was too high for the Diamonds to include him in their team.

A change in his assessed average to 5.00 points was agreed by the BSPA Management Committee today, and this opened the door for Loof to sign for the Rebels, much to the relief of Somerset Promoter Mike Golding;

“I said as soon as I knew that Tom [Hedley] wasn’t going to take up his team place with Somerset that I would not sign a rider just as a ‘stop gap’ and that whoever I signed would maintain the balance of the team.” “In Henning I believe that I have got that rider, though with less than a week to our Press Day, it is going to be a bit of a rush for him to get everything ready as he thought that yet another British season had passed him by.”

“Henning is eager to make an impression,” Golding continued, “and hope that our fans will give him a bit of time to adjust to racing in the UK, especially bearing in mind the short amount of time he has had to prepare himself.” “Henning actually lives in the UK, which will make travel arrangements a lot easier, and he will be riding on an ACU [British] licence.”

For Loof, the call from Golding to offer him a team place at Somerset came as a bolt out of the blue, but is an opportunity he is determined to grasp with both hands;

“When Mike called it felt like a message from heaven!” he said. “I have been trying to get a team place in Britain for 3 years now, and it was looking as if 2008 was going to be another one on the sidelines.”

“I’m really looking forward to riding for the Rebels, I like the look of their team, and having a fellow German in the team [Stephan Katt], can only be of benefit to me.” “We were actually team mates with Brokstedt for a few years and we always got on well.”

“I’m raring to go and cannot wait for Somerset’s press day,” he added, “I am getting my bikes fully serviced ready for Friday, it has been a long winter for me and it will be good to get out on track and blow away the cobwebs!”

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www.british-speedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.1440

Somerset have signed Matthias Kroger.