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SOMERSET will retain five of their 2016 title-winners as they take the step up to the SGB Premiership next season.Captain Josh Grajczonek, Rohan Tungate, Paul Starke, Charles Wright and Jake Allen have all signed on with the Rebels once more having been part of this year’s Premier League title win.The Oaktree Arena side have completed their line-up with the signings of Danish duo Patrick Hougaard and Jan Graversen, the former having spent the 2016 campaign with Leicester.Somerset boss Garry May said: “There were two ways I could have gone with regards to putting a team together for our first season in the SGB Premiership - either a top-heavy approach, with a big-hitting number 1, which would leave less scope lower down the riding order, or for a more balanced team to give us strength in depth.“Weighing up the two options, I decided to go for the latter as I feel that it is better to have relatively even strength throughout the seven riders rather than having to rely on a couple of riders to hit the big points for you week in, week out.“In Patrick and Jan, we have signed two riders who have shown a liking for the Oaktree Arena, both complimenting the other five riders we are retaining from the 2016 side, and I know both are really keen and excited to be joining the Rebels.”(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD co-promoter Damien Bates believes they have found the perfect balance after completing their new-look side for the 2017 season.Todd Kurtz and Robert Branford have both put pen to paper with the Tigers to complete their SGB Championship septet, the former joining as a club asset following the financial issues experienced by his previous side Plymouth.Bates said: “I like how we’ve balanced the team out, and I think in Robert we’re likely to have one of the strongest reserves in the whole league.“Todd is also a fantastic rider. He’s had a tough couple of years with the well-documented problems at Plymouth, but we’re giving him a fresh start which I think will be good for him. “We’ve also brought him from the BSPA, so we’re building our asset base which can only be a positive. He could quite easily put a point on his average as far as I’m concerned, so we’re pleased to have him on board.”

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CRADLEY have made young gun Joe Lawlor their first signing ahead of the 2017 campaign.16-year-old Lawlor made eight guest appearances for the club towards the end of last season and now joins the Heathens on a full-time basis in the National League.Co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “Joe came on leaps and bounds last year, largely due to the experience gained riding as our No.8 in the main body of the team.“He showed at the end of the season how he had benefitted from that with some high scoring performances guesting for other teams.“It’s fair to say he wasn’t short of offers for 2017, and we’re delighted that he opted to start his speedway career with us. We feel sure that he’ll prove to be a trump card at reserve for us.”