BERWICK’S Rory Schlein believes that his side are set for the Play-Offs with strength in reserve.
The former British Champion will return for the FTS Bandits in 2024 as their new captain.
Schlein, 39, had an injury-hit first season at Shielfield Park but is convinced that it can be successful this time round.
He said: “I think we will be strong at home and very, very good away.
“I am excited about how strong we are down at reserve – initially with Bastian Borke and Freddy Hodder – and that will inspire the second strings to stay on the ball.
“If you have a reserve scoring double figures then you are Play-Off bound, it’s as simple as that.”
Schlein will also concentrate on Berwick alone in the Championship after resisting any thoughts of doubling-up in the Premiership.
He added: “When I decided to return to racing the plan was to have a full-time mechanic but for one reason or another that just didn’t happen,” he said.
“At times it was a case of coming home from work, spending six hours in the workshop, getting up the next morning for work and then going to wherever I was racing.
“It spread me a bit thin at times and I spoke to Scott Nicholls a few times about how the decision to concentrate on the Championship worked for him.
“I had a couple of tentative inquiries from clubs but I’m happy with the package that (Berwick owners) Scott and Jamie (Courtney) have put together for me.
“Despite the year in retirement I always felt on the pace in 2023 but just couldn’t find consistency in the early months of the season, especially with my gating.
“Then I damaged a kneecap crashing at Oxford and reaggravated it at Berwick, which didn’t help. Neither did Berwick’s fixture list. At one point I went six weeks without a home meeting!”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.