Post by teessidetransporters on May 29, 2017 20:24:37 GMT
Teesside Transporters have confirmed the signing of World Champion Luke Treadwell for the new season.
Speaking at the end of the season awards presentation, team boss Graeme Bailey shocked the 750 capacity crowd in the main stand hospitality area when revealing that 6 of the squad had already been finalised for the new term.
The main headline was the announcement that Treadwell has signed on loan from relegated Tunstall Terriors.
"We wanted more experience in the side, and we have had our eye on Luke for a while when considering this season - the fact he is world champion nullifies any talk that he is not at his best, he is at his peak and I think he has so much more to give in the UL and he has told me how keen he is to get his average back up to over 9 where it belongs.
"And we must thank Steve at Tunstall for getting the deal done without any issues and we wish them all the best in their ambitions to get promoted again."
Speculation had been ride on Teesside that club legend and number one Hans E Bergestol could move on, with his former club Sheffield back in the top-flight - but Bailey said: "We have had interest in Hans, clearly a rider of his quality will attract interest and we had to look at all options but Hans is a Teesside legend, he will be staying here as long as I am."
Bailey also revealed four more members to go with Bergestol and Treadwell, and possibly the biggest cheer of the night was the news that they had concluded the signing of German star Hans Benkarth.
The teenager arrived on-loan from Berlin and become a heat-leader as soon as he came in, which meant him staying was a no brainer for Bailey, who said: "Hans we moved for quickly. he is one of the best young riders in the world."
And to go with Benkarth, Teesside have brought back Jack Hagen, Bjorn Haagensen and Eugene Burkes.
"Jack and Bjorn both came on leaps and bounds, indeed with Hans we have three of the best young riders in the world - to go with Hans and Luke, two of the best heat-leaders in the world - to say we are over the moon with our top-five is an understatement."
At reserves Burkes is back and Bailey is very happy with how he is progressing: "Eugene is a work in progress, he showed glimpses of brilliance and it is just a matter of consistency with him, he could be in the main body too next year, I have no doubt."
Bailey confirmed they have their eye on two or three other riders to fill the final space but they had made an offer.
"There are a few options for our last spot, and we know who we want - we are gutted we could not fit Giles Hill into the side, as we wanted but we just missed out on that - but his time will come."
The riders who have had to leave the club as part of the plans are Scandinavian duo Olle Bjorn Thoresen and Jonus Sandin and Bailey paid tribute saying: "Olle has been a big part of this club and will always be welcome back, he didn't quite progress last season so we thought we needed to move on and Jonus, we would have taken back but his average was just a bit high but I could not recommend him highly enough - a top professional."
Speaking at the end of the season awards presentation, team boss Graeme Bailey shocked the 750 capacity crowd in the main stand hospitality area when revealing that 6 of the squad had already been finalised for the new term.
The main headline was the announcement that Treadwell has signed on loan from relegated Tunstall Terriors.
"We wanted more experience in the side, and we have had our eye on Luke for a while when considering this season - the fact he is world champion nullifies any talk that he is not at his best, he is at his peak and I think he has so much more to give in the UL and he has told me how keen he is to get his average back up to over 9 where it belongs.
"And we must thank Steve at Tunstall for getting the deal done without any issues and we wish them all the best in their ambitions to get promoted again."
Speculation had been ride on Teesside that club legend and number one Hans E Bergestol could move on, with his former club Sheffield back in the top-flight - but Bailey said: "We have had interest in Hans, clearly a rider of his quality will attract interest and we had to look at all options but Hans is a Teesside legend, he will be staying here as long as I am."
Bailey also revealed four more members to go with Bergestol and Treadwell, and possibly the biggest cheer of the night was the news that they had concluded the signing of German star Hans Benkarth.
The teenager arrived on-loan from Berlin and become a heat-leader as soon as he came in, which meant him staying was a no brainer for Bailey, who said: "Hans we moved for quickly. he is one of the best young riders in the world."
And to go with Benkarth, Teesside have brought back Jack Hagen, Bjorn Haagensen and Eugene Burkes.
"Jack and Bjorn both came on leaps and bounds, indeed with Hans we have three of the best young riders in the world - to go with Hans and Luke, two of the best heat-leaders in the world - to say we are over the moon with our top-five is an understatement."
At reserves Burkes is back and Bailey is very happy with how he is progressing: "Eugene is a work in progress, he showed glimpses of brilliance and it is just a matter of consistency with him, he could be in the main body too next year, I have no doubt."
Bailey confirmed they have their eye on two or three other riders to fill the final space but they had made an offer.
"There are a few options for our last spot, and we know who we want - we are gutted we could not fit Giles Hill into the side, as we wanted but we just missed out on that - but his time will come."
The riders who have had to leave the club as part of the plans are Scandinavian duo Olle Bjorn Thoresen and Jonus Sandin and Bailey paid tribute saying: "Olle has been a big part of this club and will always be welcome back, he didn't quite progress last season so we thought we needed to move on and Jonus, we would have taken back but his average was just a bit high but I could not recommend him highly enough - a top professional."