Bickley only newcomer as Bandits name team

Berwick speedway have completed their starting line-up for the 2020 season, and with the exception of Kevin Doolan, it is very much a case of as you were.
Kyle BickleyKyle Bickley
Kyle Bickley

The remaining six riders from 2019 have all been confirmed in the Bandits’ 1-7, the newcomer being Kyle Bickley.

Bickley was a league winner with Workington in 2018 and a runner-up with Glasgow in 2019.

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The 18 year-old from Cumbria also rides for Great Britain U21s and for Belle Vue in the National League, alongside Berwick’s own Leon Flint, who of course will join him in the black & gold as the reserve pairing.

Berwick had already named Flint, Aaron Summers and Jye Etheridge as returning for the new campaign.

And at the weekend, following news that Doolan was stepping down from full-time team racing, the club also confirmed that Dany Gappmaier, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen and Coty Garcia would all be back in the home side of the pits at Shielfield for the new campaign.

Team manager Gary Flint said: ‘We can’t deny the fact that injuries halted our 2019 play-off progress and we still came so close in the end. The team spirit was phenomenal again last season and that is a dynamic we want to keep.

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“Bringing all the other guys back was a no-brainer as they all improved their starting averages in 2019. I know the choices won’t please everyone, but I am excited about the team.

“The signing of Kyle really excites all of us and the partnership of Leon and Kyle at reserve really does give the side a feeling of progression.

“Both are young riders, effectively just starting out on their senior careers, and I am sure the fans will get behind them as they always like to see young riders doing well, especially local ones.

“Aaron will step up as team captain and if truth be told he has been a great captain at most of his previous clubs and has done a great job of backing Kev up over the last couple of seasons. Now it’s Aaron’s opportunity to lead our boys on track and I’m delighted to see him in that role.

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“With the news of Kevin taking a step aside from committing to league racing in 2020 it’s been massively important that he stays involved behind the scenes and we are really happy that he will still be here in the pits assisting myself and Aaron in getting the very best out of everyone on and off the track.’