SOMERSET Speedway team manager Garry May said that this season’s Knock Out Cup win is a “great achievement” by the Rebels.

Somerset, in only their second season in the top flight of UK speedway, secured a league play-off place – only narrowly losing to Poole in the semi-finals – and then beat Kings Lynn in the cup final.

May told the County Gazette: “It’s a great achievement, having only come up two years ago.

“We didn’t have any really big riders in our first year, so I sat down with [club owner] Debbie Hancock and built a team around Jason Doyle – no rider comes bigger.

“We put it all together, and knocked out all the other teams who made the league play-offs to win the cup.”

The cup victory was all the more remarkable given that three Rebels regulars – Jack Holder, Aaron Summers and Bradley Wilson-Dean – missed the final through injury.

“It’s harder when you have riders guesting for you,” added May.

“But all those who came in – Chris Harris, Paul Starke and Charles Wright – did their job.

“It was a fantastic night at Kings Lynn [in the second leg of the final], as we got 100 per cent from everyone.”

“We have our presentation evening [tomorrow, November 2, 7pm], and supporters can have their photo taken with the trophy – it’s brilliant for the fans to have silverware.

“Debbie and I have been working together for four or five years, and in that time we’ve won 13 trophies; it’s all about rewarding the fans."

May also praised his riders, not least team captain Jason Doyle, the World Championship-winning star from Australia.

“Jason loves Somerset, and he wants us to win things.

“He’s always asking me questions and helping the other lads.

“He is Mr Somerset, and he’s been brilliant.

“It’s been a real team effort and there’s such a team spirit; the mechanics too, they’re all desperate to do their best for us.”

Having finished second in the Premiership this season, and only narrowly missed out on a place in the play-off final, May believes Somerset are now among the top clubs in the UK.

“I like to build sides to entertain the public who pay to come and watch us.

“And Somerset are coming up to be one of the top sides in the league.

“Poole and Belle Vue have been the Manchester Uniteds of speedway, and we want to beat them.”

With the winter off-season now here, May’s thoughts turn to the league’s upcoming AGM, new rules and starting to build a new team for 2019.

“Now we want to win the league,” he said.

“Debbie and I want to make Somerset one of the top clubs in the country; I don’t ever want us to be also-rans.”