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REW RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL WITH "MINOR" SPINAL FRACTURES

Aussie star Keynan Rew is not expected to require surgery after being discharged from hospital with “two minor spinal fractures.” The Australian Under-21 champion crashed out of the North Brisbane Solo Masters after crashing with Cordell Rogerson as he chased him down for the lead in heat eight at the Queensland venue. Rew was taken to hospital, sparking concern among his clubs and fans Down Under and in Europe after it was revealed he had broken his back in two places. News of his injuries was confirmed by Leszno – Rew’s parent club in Poland, which has loaned him to First Division side Gdansk for 2023. But in a tweet of their own, Gdansk revealed Rew has now been released from hospital and downplayed the seriousness of his injuries. The club tweeted: “Keynan is home now. X-rays showed two minor spinal fractures. Our competitor moves independently, and injuries will most likely not require surgery.” It remains unclear how long Rew will spend on the sidelines. His participation in the rest of the Australian summer season appears in major doubt, with his European action not due to commence until late March or early April. Alongside his deal with Gdansk, Rew is also set to make his UK debut with SGB Premiership side Ipswich Witches.

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REW SUFFERS BROKEN BACK IN BRISBANE

Australian Under-21 champion Keynan Rew faces a huge fight to be ready for the new European season after breaking his back in two places at the North Brisbane Solo Masters on Saturday. Signed by SGB Premiership club Ipswich and Polish First Division team Gdansk for 2023, Rew was chasing down race leader Cordell Rogerson in heat eight at the Queensland circuit when the pair collided on bend three. Rew fell awkwardly on the fastest part of a track, which does not have an air fence, and was taken to hospital. Posting on their official website, his Polish parent club Leszno, which has loaned him to Gdansk for next season, confirmed news of his injuries. A statement read: “Bad news has reached us from Australia. Keynan Rew had a fall during a competition in Brisbane. The Australian broke his back in two places. Fortunately, Keynan has feeling in all his limbs. We wish you a speedy recovery!!!” Rew featured in this season’s SGP2 series, just missing out on the semi-finals at the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun. His injuries ended what has been a successful homecoming so far, which saw Rew land the Aussie Under-21 title at Gillman, before reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 Australian Senior Championship at the Adelaide track last Saturday. We wish Keynan a speedy recovery.

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FRENCH RACER BERGE BAGS ROSPIGGARNA DEAL

Rospiggarna boss Peter Jansson hailed French international Dimitri Berge as “one of the best motorcycle riders I have seen in track racing” after bringing him to Hallstavik for 2023. Berge is a regular for France in the FIM Speedway of Nations, helping them reach their first-ever team world final in Manchester in 2021, before they took fourth place in FIM SON Semi-Final 2 at Vojens Speedway Center last summer. That result means the French will line up in the FIM Speedway World Cup for the first time in their history when the competition relaunches at Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium in July 2023. Away from speedway, Berge also won the FIM Long Track World Championship in 2019 and his all-round racing abilities have certainly caught Jansson’s eye as the rider makes the move from Lejonen. Jansson said: “Dimitri Berge is one of the best motorcycle riders I have seen in track racing. I have been lucky enough to see him ride both in long track and grass track. “If he gets into the team and gains good self-confidence, he can be as good as he wants. Berge is a fighter who is also a serious and easy guy to work with. He is investing hard in next year’s season and will fit well into the group.” Berge is joined in the team by Speedway GP newcomer Kim Nilsson, German racer Kai Huckenbeck and Swedish international Victor Palovaara. Elsewhere, Indianerna has completed their 2023 squad with the signature of Finnish international Tero Aarnio. He teams up with the likes of Speedway GP duo Jason Doyle and Max Fricke in Kumla. And Malilla side Dackarna has added German rider Max Dilger to their squad as a back-up rider. He links up with the likes of Speedway GP duo Maciej Janowski and Dan Bewley at the Skrotfrag Arena.

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ELLIS COMPLETES SHEFFIELD SEVEN

Former British champion Adam Ellis has sealed a return to Sheffield to complete Tigers’ 2023 side. The French-born star helped the Yorkshire outfit reach this year’s SGB Premiership Grand Final, which saw them lose out to Belle Vue in their bid for a first-ever top-flight title. The 2022 Cardiff wild card joins forces with Speedway GP star Jack Holder, French international David Bellego, Polish star Tobiasz Musielak and British racers Lewis Kerr, Kyle Howarth and Dan Gilkes to form a power-packed side, which will start 2023 among the title favourites. Bates was always hopeful Ellis would be a long-term part of the Sheffield side. He said: “When we signed Adam back in 2021, we always thought he’d be here for a while if everything went to plan. “He was absolutely fantastic for us in his first season and even though a few things didn’t go his way this year, he was still regularly among the big points. “Adam is a proven heat leader in the Premiership now and he’ll chip in with plenty of points once again in 2023, I’m sure.” With more top riders returning to the UK next season after Polish bosses cleared PGE Ekstraliga riders to compete in two other leagues, competition will be fierce for the play-off places. Tigers track five of the riders who inspired them into this year’s final, with Bellego and Gilkes the only newcomers. And Bates is very happy with this familiar recipe for success. He said: “For me, we were the best team in the league over the course of last season. When that’s the case, you know you don’t need to make too many changes. Of course, I’m going to sound biased, but I think we’ve put together another really strong team that’s going to be right up there next year.”

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DANISH STAR IVERSEN CELEBRATES TESTIMONIAL SEASON WITH HOMETOWN TEAM ESBJERG

Seven-time Danish champion Niels-Kristian Iversen hopes to build on an injury-free 2022 season as he celebrates his testimonial year with hometown team Esbjerg in 2023. Iversen confirmed his return to the Granly Speedway Arena for what will be his 11th straight season as a Viking and his 12th year with the club in all. The club has also confirmed he will be rewarded with a testimonial meeting at the start of the season to honour his service to Esbjerg. There was no doubt where the four-time FIM Speedway World Cup winner and former Speedway GP bronze medallist wanted to be for 2023, and he’s determined to build on a strong finish to 2022 with the Vikings as they aim to improve on fourth place in this year’s Speedwayligaen Final. He told the club’s Facebook page: “I’m from Esbjerg, I live in Esbjerg and Esbjerg Vikings is where I want to be. I think we have some really good conditions at Granly Speedway Arena, and a cool track that suits me really well. “Of course, I have ambitions that we should be part of the finals again in 2023. We entered it as favourites this year, but unfortunately had a collective off day. We have to go out and show we are strong for the new season, and I think we have the team to do that. “I personally enjoyed riding a season without injuries last year, and I think I reached the level I think I should be at – something I can build on to make 2023 even better.” Esbjerg boss Tom P Madsen is pleased to see Iversen back after a strong finish to 2022. He added: “It’s of course super important for us to have Puk on the team in 2023 again. I’m very much looking forward to another season with him here in Esbjerg. “We have to admit that in the first half of the last season, we expected more from him, but after the match away in Slangerup, where several including Puk, made a poor effort, he was the one who transformed the rest of the season. “The old Puk was back the next week. When Esbjerg Vikings won at home, he put in a really good effort and after that he didn’t look back. For the rest of the season, he kept the high level we know, both for Esbjerg and abroad. Of course, it’s the level I know he has and that both we, and Niels-Kristian himself, hope and expect to see next season. “I have no doubt that Puk still has a lot to give both on and off the track. He is stepping more and more into the character of the supportive and experienced mentor for his young team mates and gives a lot to the team in the pits. “Niels-Kristian still has a huge hunger to win, and that’s something he has to pass on to his team mates, so we can be at the top again in 2023.” Photo: Taylor Lanning

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REW RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL WITH "MINOR" SPINAL FRACTURES

REW SUFFERS BROKEN BACK IN BRISBANE

FRENCH RACER BERGE BAGS ROSPIGGARNA DEAL

ELLIS COMPLETES SHEFFIELD SEVEN

DANISH STAR IVERSEN CELEBRATES TESTIMONIAL SEASON WITH HOMETOWN TEAM ESBJERG