Elite League
Coventry Speedway: Andersen set to make debut against Panthers
By Nick
Aug 6, 2008, 17:09

HANS Andersen will make his Coventry debut against his old club in Thursday's Elite League showdown at the East of England Showground.

The Buildbase Bees have completed a deal which sees Andersen join them on loan for the remainder of the season, and their re-declared team has been approved by the BSPA.

The fact that Andersen will begin his Coventry career against the Panthers has been the subject of much discussion, but the Bees were adamant that he would race in every meeting that he was available for.

Andersen comes into the team as a replacement for Australian rider Rory Schlein, who is now expected to be fixed up elsewhere in the Elite League.

Bees owner Allen Trump said: "Hans has been included in Coventry's one-to-seven declaration, and that declaration has been accepted by the BSPA.

"Therefore, Hans will be included in our team to ride at Peterborough on Thursday and will make his debut in what promises to be a high-octane meeting!

"Pressure has been applied to Coventry to leave Hans out of the team for this fixture, and in fact I was told that if Hans was included, the meeting would be pulled by the Peterborough management.

"People in speedway should know that the one thing Coventry will never do is sacrifice our principles under duress. Hans is a welcome and very valued member of our side, and it will be great to have him at Peterborough.

"It's unfortunate that the innocent victim of this whole affair is Rory Schlein, whose form has ironically improved since the move for Hans was mooted.

"Both Colin Pratt and myself have explained to Rory that it's nothing personal, it's just that his average was the one that fitted, and I felt that the opportunity of signing Hans Andersen, a World-class star, was too good to miss.

"Since becoming involved with Coventry, it has always been my intention to bring World-class riders to the club, and there's no doubt that this season our performances on the track have not been as good as we had expected. Third from bottom in the Elite League is not acceptable at Brandon.

"With Filip Sitera coming into the side on Monday for the home match against Poole, and Hans making his home debut in the same meeting, I believe that we have lined up for the rest of the season potentially the most exciting speedway seen at Coventry for some time."

PETERBOROUGH: Ryan Sullivan, Lukas Dryml, Kenneth Bjerre, Karol Zabik, Daniel King, Claus Vissing, Henning Bager.

BUILDBASE BEES: Hans Andersen, Olly Allen, Chris Harris, Billy Janniro, Simon Stead, Ben Barker, Andreas Messing.