CLUB STATEMENT
19 December 2006 - Wolverhampton Speedway

WOLVERHAMPTON legend Mikael Max has ruled himself out of a return to Monmore Green next season - in a bid to salvage his career.

Max, who first joined the club in 1993, made an unsuccessful comeback from a serious leg injury last season and now wants to focus on Swedish and Polish League racing to rebuild his confidence.

But more positive news is the fact that next season''s team is almost complete after the signings of Peter Karlsson, Freddie Lindgren and Magnus Karlsson.
They join Billy Hamill, David Howe and Theo Pijper in an exciting team for the new season which starts in March, leaving one place to fill.

William Lawson is pencilled in for that slot, subject to the club finding a suitable candidate to share the role with him in the doubling-up position at reserve.
Said Van Straaten: ''Naturally to have Mikael Max in the team on a low average would have been a very attractive proposition and we had some exciting combinations in mind. He asked us to keep it quiet and that gave us hope he may have changed his mind, but sadly he hasn''t and we have to respect that.

''I''m proud to have the top three in place for next season and both Peter and Freddie mentioned the inclusion of Billy Hamill was a key factor in their thinking. They believe he brings so much to the club, both on and off the track.
''As for Magnus, we had some serious talking to do because he had a lot on his mind last season. He was an expectant father and we also ran into a conflict over fixtures with him.
''However, once all that was sorted out we saw a different rider and in two meetings at the end of the season he was a different rider.
''The key factor, we discovered, in those two meetings was the fact that he was riding on Peter Karlsson''s machinery and we have now reconstructed his contract to enable him to use equipment of that standard next season.
''There is plenty more to come from Magnus and we are all hoping he can significantly improve his average.''

Van Straaten admits the decision to leave popular German Christian Hefenbrock out of the 2007 team was as tough a choice as he has ever had to make as a promoter.
''Who wants to be a promoter in those circumstances,'' said Van Straaten. ''It''s a terrible position to be in but Christian understands the situation, I really do hate points limits at times.
''He''s talking to other Elite League clubs and I would like to think we haven''t seen the last of him in Wolverhampton colours.''

www.wolverhampton-speedway.com

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