WELCOME to the weekly bulletin of Elite League news, featuring items on all nine competing teams.
This week's edition includes an interview with Robins' Aussie ace Travis McGowan.
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton has decided to pair former World Champion Jason Crump with promising young Swede Billy Forsberg at the top of the Aces' riding order, with Charlie Gjedde and Lukasz Jankowski the other regular combination.
Morton said: "There were several permutations we could have tried. There was a temptation to give Gjedde the No. 1 job in view of his fine record at Belle Vue, but I considered that involved an element of risk.
"It is important to make a good start to a meeting and I was not comfortable about putting Gjedde straight into the job, even though he went well in practice. But the situation will be reviewed after a couple of meetings."
COVENTRY skipper Chris Harris says the Bees will be keen to hit back in their Good Friday clash with Wolverhampton after slipping to a 16-point defeat at Monmore Green.
Harris said: "The team couldn't get going, we couldn't get out of the start and we weren't riding the track like it should have been ridden, so the better team won on the night.
"It's early days so we'll keep plugging away and hope the boys can learn from this and we can start winning again, and there's no doubt we'll be having a talk before Friday's meeting."
EASTBOURNE star Scott Nicholls won three races on his debut for the Eagles - and then promised there is plenty more to come from him this season.
Nicholls said: "All in all I was fairly happy. It's nice to finish on a high note, and Leigh (Adams) had been on fire, so it's pleasing to stop someone going through the card.
"It's still really early days for us to be up to full speed. This is only my second proper meeting and it takes a while to get in the swing of things, but I feel comfortable on the bike. I've got more testing and more improvements to make."
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis says improved communication can help the Witches to a much stronger season after a forgettable 2007.
Louis said: "Last season we had a good bunch of lads, but to be perfectly honest language difficulties didn't help. The likes of Zibi Suchecki and Marcin Rempala started okay, but just couldn't progress because we couldn't communicate properly.
"Communication is a big factor and can make quite a difference. I want this team to go through the season chasing the Play-Offs. This year we are perfectly capable."
LAKESIDE manager Jon Cook took confidence from the Hammers' 13-point home victory over Poole with several members of their team showing good form.
Cook said: "I was pleased with the performance of the side and it shows that we are a team that should be up there fighting for the title towards the end of the summer. The lads all put in good rides against Poole, who are the bookies favourites to take the title.
"Andreas (Jonsson) was superb, but I was particularly pleased for Joonas (Kylmakorpi), who has come back well after his injury problems last year."
PETERBOROUGH co-promoter Mick Bratley is predicting that the Panthers can bring down a Lakeside team who are being strongly tipped for honours this season when they meet in the Craven Shield this week.
Bratley said: "It will be a good test for our young side against Lakeside, as the Hammers are, for some reason, everyone's tip for the title.
"Well, they certainly are not my tip for the top and I confidently expect our boys to 'nail' them and bring them back down to earth with a bump."
POOLE newcomer Adam Skornicki has made a spectacular start to the season with 14 points on his debut against Lakeside, and a further nine in the return fixture at Purfleet.
Skornicki said: "The first meeting was very good for me, and (at Lakeside) was alright as well. I hope it can keep going for the rest of the season.
"I'm in a very good team and I have very high hopes. When I'm around young guys and people who want to win, I try to do the same because I don't want to let them down."
SWINDON's Travis McGowan is looking for a change of luck this year after suffering a series of shoulder injuries last season.
McGowan said: "I was out for a lot of last year, which is very uncharacteristic for me. I have never missed so many meetings in my whole career and it takes a lot every time to come back.
"A lot is said for the mental side because the body hurts, but the mind takes a bit longer to clear. I have had time away and once the body gets stronger the mind does come back in time."
WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Freddie Lindgren was in a jubilant mood after helping his side to a 53-37 win over Coventry in the Craven Shield.
He said: “It’s a great way for us to start the season, we were really on form and went for it from the start.
“Our new signings rode well and it’s an encouraging start for us, but we have to build on this in the weeks to come.”
