Speedway: Old boy Rusty makes shock return to Glasgow Tigers

Jun 1 2009

SPEEDWAY legend Rusty Harrison has made a sensational return from retirement and will line-up for Glasgow Tigers for this week's trip to Redcar.

Harrison looked to be lost to speedway when he retired from the sport at the tail end of the 2008 season with illness, but the speedway bug has bitten once again and after seeking the necessary medical assurances, has decided to make a welcome comeback.

Harrison is joined at Ashfield by fellow new-boy Ben Taylor who arrives from Birmingham more than a year after the Tigers first tried to sign him.

Making way for the pair are Ross Brady and Lee Smart.  

It's the return of Harrison which will most capture the imagination of Tigers fans though. Lats riding for Kings Lynn last year, he has had a couple of practice sessions at both Workington and Glasgow and is now set to return to the sport on Thursday.
 
Harrison's first senior club were Glasgow, who he signed for when entering Britain for the first time in 1999, but moved on to Workington the following year, and then has had spells with various Premier League clubs, including arch rivals Edinburgh.
 
Co-Promoter Stewart Dickson said of the return of Harrison: "We have no doubt that he is in the right frame of mind and has a determination to make this a very successful comeback.
 
"Given that he is three months behind everyone else this season it may take him a meeting or two to get to the same level of sharpness but there is no doubt that he will be an asset to this club.
 
"The situation is slightly different with Ben as perhaps he is a little low in confidence after a difficult start to his season.  

"Once again though we were very impressed with what he had to say about coming to Glasgow and what we will be striving to do is to build up his confidence and have him believe that he is capable of being a big scorer in the Premier League.  

"In one of his last races with the Brummies he went past Steve Johnston and beat him out of the park, the only Birmingham rider to do so that evening, so there is no doubt that he has the ability, now we must concentrate on getting the best out of him here at Glasgow."