Romanek takes a break

Arena-Essex Speedway boss, Ronnie Russell, today announced that Pole Lukasz Romanek would be taking a break from racing in this Country. He has experienced problems adapting to the demands of racing over here and has struggled with the language.

He will be replaced in the Hammers line-up by another Pole, Mariusz Puszakowski. The 27 year old raced in this Country towards the end of last season where he had several meetings for Ipswich. In his spell with the Witches he rode twice against the Hammers scoring an impressive 11+1 points at Foxhall and 5+3 at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

Russell admitted, "Lukasz has found it very difficult to settle to life in England and to life in British Speedway. I only felt it fair to give the lad some time out and hopefully we will see him again in Hammers colours in the future. Mariusz comes to us with a good pedigree and has scored well in his previous outings in this country and I am hoping he will give us that added edge especially away from home where we have been lacking recently."

Puszakowski will make his debut for the Hammers on Friday 28th April when the Hammers face Reading at the Arena-Essex Raceway in the Sky Sports Elite League. He will not, however, be in the side that travels up to Belle Vue, Manchester next Monday. Shaun Tacey will be included in that fixture where the club are hoping to emulate last season's superb victory.

The Hammers Swedish Grand Prix star, Andreas Jonsson, is expected to take his place in the Hammers team for both of these fixtures having missed several meetings due to illness. In addition Paul Hurry, who missed the away match at Ipswich on Good Friday, will be back in the Hammers side for both of next weeks matches. Hurry will also take his place at Rye House this Saturday in the World Championship Qualifying Round. Hurry said, "I still have some discomfort with the knee, but it is not too bad with the brace on which will be on for another three to four weeks. I envisage no problems with the injury riding both Saturday and Monday."