GLASGOW captain Aaron Summers is desperate to prove a point when the Tigers bid to take top prize at this weekend’s Premier League Fours championship.
The Ashfield men have been ranked favourites to win a host of silverware this season thanks to their powerhouse heatleading trio of Summers, Richard Lawson and Richie Worrall, backed up by Rene Bach.
But some fans and pundits have moved their backing elsewhere due to the early-season form of other sides around them.
However Summers is keen to live up to the billing, starting with the new-look, two-day event this weekend at Peterborough – where Glasgow must qualify from Saturday’s meeting to make Sunday’s final.
The Tigers skipper said: “They’re trying out something new with the format – so it would be gutting to leave on the Saturday. It’s got to be the aim to make the Sunday and with the team we’ve got, I don’t see why we can’t.
“It’s a massive boost having Rene – he goes well around there and he’s come back into form. I think we have a good chance.
“Everyone expects us to win because of our ownership, but a lot of other clubs would wish they had the same sort of backing.
“It puts pressure on but it’s not anything that should bother us. It would be good this year to get some trophies under our belt and it might shut a few people up a bit.”
Summers is a previous Fours winner with Birmingham, so he knows the format well.
He added: “We are one of the teams that are going to stick out and a few other teams have had their troubles, so there’s a chance for us to take it and bring the trophy home.”
Peterborough automatically qualify for Sunday’s final as hosts, with the other 12 teams split into three groups on Saturday. Glasgow face arguably the toughest test against Somerset, Scunthorpe and Workington.
The winner of each group then progresses to the following day.
But even if the Tigers don’t make it to the final, their top two riders will still appear in an individual meeting on Sunday – meaning travelling fans will be able to enjoy action from their team across both days.
A total of 72 races will take place over the weekend, featuring 52 riders, in what is a first for British speedway.