GLASGOW Tigers are delighted to announce that KO Cup-winning captain Aaron Summers is back in the red and white stripes for the 2017 SGB Championship campaign.
The 28-year-old Australian returns for his third season at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium on an 8.57 average.
It’s the first piece in the 2017 jigsaw and leaves team manager Stewart Dickson with 31.43 with which to build the rest of his side.
Summers signed for Glasgow on a full transfer from Redcar ahead of the 2015 season, arriving at the start of the club’s new era under owners Gerry and Michael Facenna.
In his first term with the Tigers he put half-a-point on his 7.78 average and established himself among the Premier League’s top heatleaders. He just missed out on trophy glory, losing in the League Cup final and later the Premier League play-off final, both against Edinburgh.
Summers was one of the first names on the team sheet for 2016, and it was another successful season for him on a personal level. Not only did he break the Ashfield track record – a record he still holds – he upped his average again by 0.2 points and won his first silverware with Glasgow, lifting the KO Cup after victory against Newcastle.
His outstanding end to 2016, which included a paid 15-point maximum at Edinburgh in the Tigers’ final Premier League meeting of the year, made him a hot favourite to sign up again this winter.
Summers says he’s looking to continue that progress into next season.
He said: “The season went well and I finished really strongly, at the top of the averages, and I got the track record back – so I’m looking forward to returning.
“The way I finished shows what people can expect from me. Next season is going to be the year I need to prove myself, if I haven’t already done that this year.
“Preparations are already under way for next season with training and putting together the bikes.
“Glasgow knew I was keen to come back and everyone was just waiting on what was happening with the AGM. The new 40-point limit does make it tighter, but they’ve also altered it elsewhere, so some riders can come in on averages lower than three points.
“The promotion will put together the best team they can. You need a bit of luck when it comes to the business end of the season and a few little things didn’t go our way last season – so the league title is one thing we need to push on for next year and try to make it ours.”