TIGERS BRING IN GILKES

DAN Gilkes will step up to the Premiership for the first time next season as Sheffield’s new Rising Star.

Tigers boss Simon Stead has worked with the 20-year-old in recent years as part of the GB international set-up, and is delighted to bring the youngster to Owlerton.

Stead said: “I was absolutely delighted that Dan’s name was still on the list of riders available to us when it came around to our Rising Star selection.

“That’s because he was my No.1 target anyway and I was desperate to work with him.

“I spoke in some depth with Dan towards the end of last season and told him I genuinely felt the time was right for him to step up and make the move into the Premiership – albeit on his limited bike time and Championship racing this year due to injury.

“We see this as a long-term thing and that was made very, very clear to Dan throughout our discussions with him.”