DIRECTOR of Speedway Laurence Rogers insists Birmingham bosses are already doing as much as they possibly can to resolve their pre-season team setback.
News came through on Wednesday that No.1 Piotr Pawlicki would be unable to take his place in the Curtis Sport Brummies’ opening Premiership fixtures due to leg muscle damage – but he is already working overtime to be back on a bike as soon as possible.
In the meantime though, Rogers says the club’s chiefs have been working non-stop behind the scenes over the past 24-hours.
“We’ve had all the paperwork through from the hospital and the doctor, nicely translated into English, and he is going to miss the first few weeks of the season due to muscle damage in one of his legs,” Rogers said.
“Between Sam (Ermolenko – team manager), Chris (Adams – assistant team manager), myself and Nigel (Tolley – CEO) we’ve been very busy.
“It’s not a case of picking a name out and they appear all of a sudden.
“We’ve checked with the SCB (Speedway Control Bureau) what we’re allowed to do and what we’re not allowed to do, what the visa situation is; we’ve spoken to various riders but we’ve got to see what’s available out there, we’re doing what we can.”
Rogers has also confirmed that Pawlicki will be present at the club’s upcoming off-track team events but says the Pole is naturally gutted that he will miss out on early action.
“Piotr has spent all winter getting fit,” Rogers said.
“You’ve seen pictures of him bike riding, running up mountains and other things trying to get fit, unfortunately this happens at the eleventh hour
“I’ve seen some of the rumours there that ‘we’re not going to see him’, but it was he who was determined he was going to still be at our Press and Practice next Monday to be with the lads and meet the fans in the evening and then the following week he will fly in to do the Media Day at Belle Vue.
“That is brilliant and it shows his commitment to the club; the doom and gloom merchants are out there saying ‘he’s going to let you down’, well no he’s not.
“He was in a really downhearted mood on Wednesday when we spoke to him about the situation.”
The Brummies start at Oxford on Thursday, March 14 (7.30) before launching their home league programme on Monday, March 25 (7.30) against reigning Champions Sheffield – and tickets are now available online via: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/56057
