We'll Grin And Bear It

Article by Bryan Copeland

Photo by Ian Adam

Glasgow skipper Aaron Summers has vowed to soldier on in the Tigers' title bid - despite losing new signing Kauko Nieminen to injury.

The club were dealt a massive blow last night when the Finnish rider crashed in his home country and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone - just 24 hours after he'd made his debut at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium, scoring seven points.

The outlook for Nieminen, 35, is not yet clear - but he looks certain to miss tomorrow's visit to Redcar, and most likely the return fixture in Glasgow on Sunday.

Nieminen had himself replaced another injury victim in David Howe, who in turn had come in for Kozza Smith after his season was ended in a high-speed crash.

Summers, who is facing the Bears for the first time as a Tigers rider since his high-profile winter transfer from Teeside to Glasgow, said: "Kauko was just getting settled in. I rode with him earlier on in the season in Sweden, so I know what he can do, and it would have been really good to have him.

"He hadn't had any track time on Monday so for him to do that well, it showed signs of what was to come.

"A collarbone is only a three or four-week job a lot of the time, so hopefully he won't be too long out and he can come back in for the end of the season.

"I'm looking forward to Redcar. My season has gone a lot better this year than it did last year, so it should be good to go back there. I should have a new engine for it.

"It's a shame we won't have Kauko in the team but we will go out there regardless because we need the away win to put the points on the board.

"Richard Lawson also knows how to ride the place having been there last year, so he'll be out there to get a little bit of payback too."

Glasgow are already without the services of injured No 1 Nick Morris who is still recovering from an elbow injury. They will also be without Victor Palovaara tomorrow as he's riding in his native Sweden.

Newcastle star Steve Worrall will guest for Morris while former Redcar rider Richard Hall comes in for Palovaara at reserve.

Sunday's meeting at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium sees the Bears travel north - with Glasgow running a promotion that all kids get into the match free.

An update on Nieminen, and how his absence will be covered on Thursday and Sunday, will be released in due course.