Reading name 2006 team.

Reading speedway, has the perfect Christmas present for fans....a full team for the 2006 Elite League!

The following riders have agreed terms with the Reading based club and this is the likely line-up in terms of rider numbers:

Greg Hancock
Danny Bird
Travis McGowan
Matej Zagar
Charlie Gjedde
Zdenek Simota
Janusz Kolodziej

Co-promoter John Postlethwaite, commented: "I hope this will excite the fans and whet their appetite before Christmas. We've worked hard to get the full line-up finalised in such a short period of time and I would like to thank Jim Lynch - the team manager and my co-promoter - for his efforts in putting this team together.

"I would also like to thank Coventry and Swindon for their co-operation in loaning out Greg and Charlie. And finally, thanks to Nigel Wagstaff for his assistance in allowing us to purchase Travis McGowan. This means the team now consists of no less than five Reading assets."

A further exciting piece of news is the appointment of Sam Ermolenko as Sporting Director of Reading speedway from the 1st January 2006.

Postlethwaite added: "Appointing Sam to help the team with technical issues, their training programmes and on-track performance has always been in the back of my mind and I'm delighted it has come to fruition.

"Whilst Jim will have all the responsibilities of a team manager, he will now be able to rely on a leading figure in the sport, who's an ex-World Champion as well as an expert engine tuner, to help with the development of the team.

Postlethwaite concluded: "I look forward to working closely with Jim and Sam and together with the riders and support staff, make Reading Speedway a real force amongst the British speedway teams in the Elite League.