Smith becomes a Bandit
Last updated 11:39, Thursday, 08 May 2008
BERWICK Bandits have signed the former Workington Comets rider Scott Smith who was released last week.
Smith will attempt to re-activate his career with his former club and makes his debut on Saturday at Shielfield against the Isle of Wight.
The 34-year-old Yorkshireman will go into the Bandits team as a replacement for the injured Guglielmo Franchetti, and this will be his third spell with the Berwick club.
Promoter Peter Waite said: "He’s a real racer and just the sort of rider this club needs right now to give us more impetus sitting on top of the table."
Smith, who had two years out of speedway before signing for the Comets after Craig Branney broke his leg on the Telford ice, had a disappointing time of it with Workington.
But his best performance was at Berwick, in his first match, when he scored six points and two bonus points. Apart from that only a six-point return at Glasgow, plus one bonus point, was his best contribution to the team.
Workington boss Keith Denham said: “Scott was a smashing lad and we were all hoping he was going to find his form but he just wasn’t getting there and I had to make a decision. We needed to make a decision and unfortunately Scott was the victim.
“We sincerely hope he revives his career with Berwick and it proves a successful switch for him. Actually a minute after we’d agreed to let him speak with Berwick we had a phone call from Glasgow who wanted to speak with him as well.
“Their young Aussie Josh Grajczonek, who guested successfully against us for Rye House on Saturday has broken his arm and they are looking for a replacement.
“It’s sometimes like that in speedway, when one door closes another one opens up. In Scott’s case it was two.”
Denham also admitted to being happy with Smith’s replacement for the difficult No 2 berth Barry Burchatt.
“He was very unlucky on his debut blowing two engines but he had spent all of Saturday morning going round Derwent Park in a lengthy practice session.
Maybe that didn’t help.
