The Highbridge-based Somerset Rebels speedway team have given their fans a super Christmas present by announcing the final three riders for their 2018 line-up, led by current speedway world champion Jason Doyle.
The Rebels will be led in 2018 by Doyle, who will be returning to the Oaktree Arena for his third spell at the club.
Doyle first rode for Somerset in 2008, helping the club to KO Cup success that year, he returning in 2012 for a 2-season stint, which culminated in the Rebels first-ever league championship title, the club doing ‘the double’ that year with further KO Cup success, whilst Doyle teamed up with Josh Grajczonek to lift the Premier League Pairs crown for the first time in the club’s history.
Last season saw Doyle lead Swindon to the SGB Premiership title, and on a personal level, the Norwich-based rider was finally crowned World Speedway Champion after injury had snatched the title from his grasp the previous season.
“I’m very happy to be back at Somerset Rebels for 2018!” said Doyle upon the announcement.
“I wanted to race British speedway next season and there is no better way to do it than with Somerset!”
“I think this was the signing all Somerset fans had hoped for, but perhaps never though it would actually happen,” said Rebels team manager Garry May, “but I know that Jason considers Somerset has his ‘home’ as far as speedway is concerned, and his signing is a statement of intent by the club for the 2018 campaign.”
Also in the side will be the 2016 Danish under-21 champion, Jonas Jeppesen, pictured below who will be making his full UK racing debut when the tapes rise on the 2018 campaign.
He has been endorsed by none other than Bjarne Pedersen, the 19-year-old, having ridden in the same Holsted team in Denmark as Pedersen, as well as ex-Rebel Rasmus Jensen.
“I had been tracking Jonas’ results in Europe throughout last season and asked Bjarne if he felt that the lad was ready for coming over to the UK what with 2018 being his first season of racing in the UK, but Bjarne felt that Jonas was more than ready for the challenge,” said Rebels team manager Garry May.
As for the rider himself, Jeppesen is looking forward to riding for the Rebels in 2018. “I am really happy to get to ride for Somerset next year,” he said, “the track looks really good and well prepared and it has been easy to work with the management. Really looking forward to the new challenge and hope I can prove myself and Somerset will have a good year.”
The next new rider to be announced is one who will need no introductions to Somerset fans as 2018 will be his 6th successive season with the Rebels – Charles Wright, pictured below.
Very much a fans’ favourite, Wright had an exceptional 2017 to finish 2nd in the team’s official end of season averages, and is more than delighted to be returning to the Oaktree Arena;
“Everything about the club is just superb,” he said, “the promotion, the fans, absolutely everything. The promotion look after you and the fans are really appreciative of their riders, even when things aren’t quite going to plan, they are also there giving you support, which is a great feeling.”
“Having tested the waters last year in the Premiership, the club have a better idea of what to expect and I am sure that we will be a much different proposition with that debut season behind us.”
Speaking of Wright’s signing, team manager Garry May knew that it would be well received by the fans;
“If I hadn’t included Charles in the septet then I don’t think the Somerset fans would have let me back into the Oaktree Arena, he joked, “He is the type of ride that the fans love to see, all-action with a never-say-die attitude, and although he might provide everyone with one or two scary moments every now and then, to be honest, I wouldn’t want it any other way with Charles!”
