Coventry Cycle Speedway club, gearing up for their return to top tier Elite League racing in 2016, have signed World junior number two Michal Sassek from Poland.
The 18 year, from Popowo Wonieskie near the major city of Leszno, in west-central Poland, joins the ambitious Hearsall Common club to bolster their firepower for the new Elite League campaign starting in April.
Sassek came to the attention of Coventry with a stunning performance in last year’s World Junior Final. He jetted to a superb 17 point score to claim the silver medal, just one point behind the eventual champion.
Still in higher education in Poland, Sassek will augment Coventry`s squad in holiday periods and for crucial matches to ensure Coventry are competitive in the Elite League. He will fly from Poznan into Birmingham Airport for his racing engagements for Coventry.
Sassek was approached by Coventry`s world number 4, Australian star Bobby McMillan, to join Coventry. McMillan has been playing a crucial role in rider contracts as the Hearsall Common outfit close in on multiple signings.
Speaking from his Polish home, Sassek said: “It is an honour to be able to race in the UK and for such a top club as Coventry. Bobby McMillan told me what a great club they are. I am told the track has awesome banked bends, so can`t wait to race on it in the Elite League”.
Coventry team manager Lee Marsh said: “Michal joining is a real scoop for us. There is a huge difference in class between regional racing and the Elite League and Michal will enable us to be competitive in most matches”.
The capture of Sassek continues the long link between Coventry and Polish Cycle Speedway. Over the past decade, top Polish riders like Robert Bedra, Prezmek Binkowski and Dominik Rycharski have all graced Hearsall Common with great success.
Rycharski has lived and worked in Coventry for the past ten years and is an immensely popular figure at the club. Now 37 years old, Rycharski is expected to assume a heat leader role this season in the Elite League, when his work commitments allow.
The powerful form of the 2006 European Individual champion Damian Wozny provides an even closer association to Sassek, as both are from Leszno. Wozny, who lost just five races
in his two year Coventry career, is considered Coventry`s greatest ever rider by club insiders.
The 2016 Cycle Speedway Elite League season races into action at Hearsall Common in April, when Ipswich are the visitors. The date shall be confirmed shortly.
For more information on Coventry Cycle Speedway club, please go to: www.coventrycyclespeedway.co.uk