Berwick’s speedway Bandits have signed up 2009 Premier League Riders’ Champion Ricky Ashworth as a replacement for their currently-injured Australian Kozza Smith.

Early in January, Smith -- last season’s ‘Rider of the Year’ -- suffered a badly-broken femur (thighbone) as a result of a chilling high-speed crash involving Swindon rider Troy Batchelor during the opening leg of the Australian Championship Series at North Brisbane, Queensland.

With an orthopaedic prognosis of up to six months for a full recovery by Kozza, Bandits’ bosses have chosen the 29-year-old from Salford, Lancashire, to take his place in their starting line-up.

“Several riders were considered, even talked to, to fill the role.” admitted team boss Ian Rae.

“But we weren’t really getting the right results from these discussions. Some riders wanted too much money or warned us they would miss some of our meetings. Or both!  We were facing a brick wall.

“However, out of the blue on Sunday we took a call from (his parent club) Sheffield’s promoter David Hoggart to say that Ricky Ashworth -- who everyone thought would be joining Plymouth -- hadn’t been able to come to terms with the Devils.   Would we be interested?

“Yes we were! 

“I obviously questioned the validity but was assured it was true.  A rider of Ricky's ability is too good to overlook bearing in mind our current circumstances and we commenced negotiations on Monday to bring him to Shielfield Park.

“With Sheffield’s full permission we touched base with Ricky, our director George Hepburn and I met him at Wetherby Services on the A1 and today we are holding the signed contracts.   

“Job done!

“Whatever the problem was in Devon – and that would be none of our business – I can state that Ricky was very understanding of our situation and of our budgets, and we had no trouble in coming to terms.

“He will actually take over our Number One race-jacket for the opening fixtures, as he has a higher CMA (calculated match average) than Seb Alden – and with his known abilities around Shielfield Park, we are confident our squad will be every bit as solid as we had expected it to be, had Kozza not been injured.”

The Tigers’ David Hoggart stated: “When Ricky called me on Sunday to say he had failed to agree terms with Plymouth and had declined their offer of a team place for 2012, I had to think on my feet. 

“I had already tried several clubs when we were unable to accommodate him this year and I didn't want to see the lad out of work"

Promoter John Anderson has been quick to praise Ian Rae for his part in pulling off such a coup.

“Ian seems to bring out the best in people when he’s talking to them about terms. Certainly our board of directors is really impressed by the way he has recruited this winter – David Bellago was another example of this -- and delighted to hear who we’ve now got coming in to wear our colours.

“What I like about Ricky Ashworth is that he wins things.He won the PLRC, he won the PL Pairs (with Josh Auty) in 2010 – and further back, I remember his being part of the Sheffield squad that won the Premier League and KO Cup double. We like winners here – and I reckon we’ve got another one!

“He is also a battler on the track. I think everyone who saw them will remember a couple of titanic tussles he had here with Michal Makovsky a few years ago – if he’s bringing that kind of commitment to the black-and-gold of our A & J Scott Bandits, that’ll do for me!”

Addressing the question of Kozza Smith’s eventual return to racing fitness in the light of Ashworth’s signing, a club spokesperson offered a pragmatic assessment of the circumstances.

“Nobody yet knows when that will be. Kozza is a member of our squad, but currently unavailable. If and when he reports in, fit and ready, the situation will be assessed at that point in time and not before.”

BRENTON BARNFIELD

The latest reports from Australia regarding 18-year-old Brenton Barnfield, who was seriously injured during Saturday’s Australian Under-21 Championship event at Kurri-Kurri, NSW, are encouraging.

The young Bandit, from Mildura in Victoria, was rushed to hospital with head injuries after what team-mate Kozza Smith, present at the meeting on crutches, reported as a “massive crash”.

He was placed in intensive care, and – to ease his situation – medical staff initially induced a coma.

However, his mum Vicki has advised Bandits’ officials that hospital authorities are assuring her of continuing improvement in her son’s condition.

“He is out of intensive care, and has even been able to have a shower,” she reported.  “He is slowly ‘waking up’ from the coma.    He can talk to us a bit and knows everybody – but has absolutely no memory at all of the 48 hours prior to the meeting.”

AWARD-WINNING MATCH PROGRAMME:

Bandits’ award-winning match-day programme is under design, and space for commercial advertising is now restricted.  Any potential – especially new—advertisers should contact Julie Newton on Julie [at] berwickbandits.co without delay.

COME AND JOIN US!

Stadium renovation work has resumed each Sunday (weather permitting) at 10am.   Volunteer assistance is always welcome, and with just two months before the track’s reopening meeting, Ian Rae and his squad will be happy to find work for any club supporters turning up each Sunday.

LAUNCH PARTY IS MARCH 10th --- ARE YOU DANCING?

All eyes are on the new season – and there will be a Grand Pre-Season Dance at Berwick Rugby Club on the evening of Saturday, March 10th.    Tickets are £12 – and numbers are limited!

Order tickets from Julie Newton on Julie [at] berwickbandits.co please note that all reservations must be paid for before March 10th.

BUILD THE FENCE – BRICK BY BRICK!

As has been widely publicized, there is to be a state-of-the-art polyfoam safety fence installed at Shielfield Park in time for the club’s Grand Reopening Night on March 17th.

To aid the cost of purchase and installation, speedway-minded people are being invited to ‘buy a brick’ for the fence with a £50 donation, in return for which they will receive a handsome certificate, and have their name permanently displayed within the stadium.

“We really need to generate funding for the fence” said commercial manager Julie Newton.  “This is a way members of the public can get on board – and a ‘brick’ would make a terrific permanent memento for just about any speedway supporter!”

To buy a brick – for yourself or a loved one as a present – contact Julie Newton on Julie [at] berwickbandits.co 

SEASON TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE:

Berwick Speedway Season Tickets are now available for 2012, purchase of which entitles entry to all regular-season Premier League and Premier Trophy meetings at Shielfield Park at what is a solidly-discounted admission.

Prices are: Adult £216, Senior £156, Junior (under 16) £74 based on 18 meetings.  Season ticket holders will also be given a voucher booklet to use against any challenge meetings and KO Cup ties held at Shielfield Park in 2012, which will give them £1 off each admission.    Children under 5 years are, as always, admitted free.  Offer excludes any FIM or BSPA ‘shared events’. 

Application forms are available to download from the club's official website at www.berwickbandits.co or by calling 07955211618.

POLYFOAM FENCE SPONSORSHIP

The state-of-the-art polyfoam fence to be installed at Shielfield Park – the ‘newest, and most-modern in global speedway’ – will carry giant advertising panels, and the club is anxious to offer this space to local, as well as national organizations.

“They’ll get their names and motifs emblazoned on it, of course” confirmed Commercial Manager Julie Newton.  “Just get in touch with me while there are still spaces to sell!

Enquiries to Julie Newton on Julie [at] berwickbandits.co