It’s been a bad day for two West Cumbrian speedway riders who have been dropped by their teams.
Craig Cook, currently out injured, has been jettisoned by Premiership Sheffield Tigers while Kyle Bickley has been replaced at Redcar Bears.
Both are West Cumbria-based and are ex-Workington Comets riders.
Sheffield have snapped-up experienced British racer Lewis Kerr. It comes just days after he was released by fellow Premiership side King’s Lynn – the club who helped him launch his career back in 2010.
The 32-year-old replaces former Grand Prix competitor Craig Cook who has failed to hit the heights many thought he could after joining the Tigers during the winter.
Cook managed just 48 points from 10 league fixtures and with him currently out of action after crashing whilst on Championship duty for Glasgow almost a fortnight ago, the Tigers have pounced to get their man.
Team boss Simon Stead said: “First and foremost I’d like to say that there’s nobody more disappointed than Craig and myself that this didn’t work out for him at Sheffield.
“I genuinely thought we’d got him in on a bargain average and I was convinced he could easily improve that figure.
“But for some reason, Craig just never really got going this year and it’s a shame because we know he’s a talented speedway rider.
“His average has actually dropped by over a point and a half and that would put too much pressure on our reserves and Kyle (Howarth) who were the only riders who could cover for him.
“An opportunity presented itself to us when Lewi left King’s Lynn and after Craig’s R/R rides on Monday only scored four points, we acted quickly to get a deal with him over the line.”
The Redcar Bears moved to strengthen, ahead of a crucial week in their season, by bringing in the experienced Kyle Newman.
He started the season for Oxford but struggled, by his standards, while carrying a shoulder injury. Now, after six weeks to recover, he is eager to get his season back on track and will start at reserve for the Bears.
The unfortunate man to make way is West Cumbrian Kyle Bickley, who has had a chaotic season. Losing his team place at Berwick be switched to Newcastle but hadn’t even ridden when the track closed.
Co-promoter Jamie Swales said: ‘Kyle has shown flashes of his true potential in his short time with the club, but with points to spare on the overall team average we must take every advantage we can in our push for the play-offs.
“We wish Kyle well for the rest of the season. In Kyle Newman though we are bringing in a proven performer at this level who I believe will help us win matches.”
