Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8
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Thursday, 8 November


Premier League News



Edinburgh: An interesting article appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News about Aaron Summers joining the team next year and about the Monarchs options for the new season:

WHEN Aaron Summers spent his six-week holiday watching Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs in action at Armadale, little did he realise he would be offered a contract to ride for the Capital outfit in 2008.

The 19-year-old rookie Australian kid was unveiled as Monarchs' first signing for next season this week - a dream come true for Summers, who only came across to the UK to see what all the fuss about, having heard so much about the Premier League. Summers did ride a few meetings for Monarchs during his stay and displayed sufficient skill and application to impress the Monarchs' management team. The teenager, who comes in on a three point average, will fill one of the two reserve spots.

Promoter John Campbell today said that he has no doubts that Summers will score points when he makes his senior debut next March. "Aaron has got reasonable potential," said Campbell. "We were in a position to announce his signing because no matter what the points limit is in the Premier League in 2008, we will use a three point rider at reserve. He fits the bill and has a British passport."

Campbell revealed just how much of an eye-opener British speedway was for Summers. "The thing I knew, apart from Aaron himself, was he came across to this country with, basically, little equipment of his own. In fact, he had to borrow a complete bike from Adam McKinna. It wasn't exactly how he would have set up a machine for himself. Then, having got the hang of it, his holiday was over and he had to return home. Yet, despite that handicap, he did get better while he was here."

Summers is already making preparations in readiness for next year and Campbell added: "The plan was for Aaron's father, Adrian, to come over with him. But this doesn't look like happening now because Adrian has decided to buy his son a complete new bike instead, which sounds a much better idea to me. Aaron also managed to accumulate some funds during his summer visit and this will go towards a rolling chassis. So he will have two bikes for the new season."

Worries that Summers will find it tough in the helter-skelter world of the Premier League, are dismissed by Campbell. "Aaron certainly didn't know what he was coming across to in the first place. Here you finish a meeting at 10.00pm and you can be racing 200 miles away the next day. They don't do that in Australia. The whole scale of racing in the UK took him by surprise."

There have been criticisms that some riders who occupied reserve positions in the Premier League last season, weren't up to standard but Campbell said: "I don't think this applies to Aaron. The six-week stay he had gives him quite a big advantage over some of the other young Australians we've had in our team in the past. Aaron knows what's it about and knows exactly what he needs to do to prepare for life in the Premier League. I think he'll be points scoring from the first meeting onwards."

Promoters are expected to abolish the rule making it compulsory to track two British riders at reserve - leaving the door open for Finn Kalle Katajisto to partner Summers. Campbell added: "It all depends on what the points limit will be set at. There is such a varying degree of opinion about it. It could be lowered to 37 - or go up to 43. If it is raised to a higher level I don't think we will run with two three point reserves. If, however, it goes down we are in a favourable position with Kalle and Aaron."

Campbell's priority is to find a top-scoring No.1 to help arrest the slide in fortunes Monarchs have suffered over the last two years. But Campbell admitted: "I don't have a team on paper we can move for, nor have I got a ten-point rider that I can sign in December. Depending on what the points limit will be, we may not have ten points to play with for our top man."


Glasgow: Glasgow have still to complete the signing of Shane Parker for next season. Although it looks like a formality the Sun had this to say:

GLASGOW skipper Shane Parker isn’t ready to commit himself to another year riding for Tigers.

Parker heads home to Australia on Sunday without the expected contract in his back pocket but insists he isn’t worried. He said: “All my time is being taken up with packing suitcases. Glasgow have made me an offer but I haven’t looked at it yet. I’ll read over it on a beautiful beach while sipping a Jack Daniels."

Tigers chief Alan Dick said: “Shane will have plenty of time to think things over.”



Sheffield: The Tigers are anxious to keep Andre Compton and Ricky Ashworth next season. The BSPA News said:

SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin insists he wants to keep skipper Andre Compton at the club next season.

The Owlerton side already have Ricky Ashworth penciled in after he completed a two-year deal last winter and Compton is expected to hold talks over a new deal soon.

Said Machin: “Andre is a great professional and he is in my opinion one of the most consistent performers since the league was launched a decade ago.”