The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have been rocked by the news that Emil Kramer will be missing from the team for at least the next 7 days due to the injury he sustained as a result of his fall in Somerset’s match at King’s Lynn last Wednesday.

Although the fall looked innocuous enough, Kramer aggravated a back injury which he suffered whilst riding in Poland last month, as well as his sciatic nerve.  The 28 year old Swede still took his place in last Friday’s Exmoor Chase at the Oak Tree Arena, but the pain was too much for him and he withdrew from the meeting after just one ride.

Kramer’s absence will mean that Somerset will utilise the rider replacement facility as cover for Friday’s [25th] home Premier League match against King’s Lynn as well as their away match at Stoke next Sunday [27th], each of the remaining six members of the team being eligible to take his rides.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, it will also mean that they will have to contest the Premier League Four Team Championship at Workington on Saturday [26th] without Kramer in their quartet.  Stephan Katt will replace him in the team with Brent Werner moving into the reserve berth for Saturday’s meeting.

“Losing Emil is an obvious blow to the team,” said Somerset Promoter Mike Golding, “but we have been very strong at home this year and I would expect the rest of the team to be more than capable of covering for him in our home match against King’s Lynn on Friday and gain some measure of revenge for our defeat at the Norfolk Arena last Wednesday.”

“It will, however, make our task of recording our fourth away win in the league at Stoke on Sunday all the more difficult as Emil has always performed well in the past at Loomer Road.”  Golding continued, “But as they have shown already this year, this is a Somerset team that knows how to dig deep when the chips are down, and we will be going to Stoke with that away win still in our sights.”

“Emil’s absence will be felt most strongly at the Fours on Saturday night though.”  “I really thought that we would progress from our Group into the Final, and once there we would have had as good a chance as anyone else of lifting the title itself.”  “Without Emil in the quartet it does now makes our qualification through to the Final all the more difficult, but I am still confident that we will give a good account of ourselves and that we can make it through to the Final.”