Waite moves fast to cover injuries.

Elm Bank Berwick Bandits Promoter Peter Waite has acted with more speed than his top rider from the starting gate to plug the gaps left after last weekend's disastrous win over Rye House that saw two top Bandits receiving hospital treatment.

David Meldrum damaged an arm and elbow, whilst Michal Makovsky broke an arm in three places, tore ligaments and tendons and looks to be out of action till virtually the end of the season in October.

The two newcomers to Shielfield Park, in time for this Saturday's match at home to the Isle of Wight Islanders are German Mirko Wolter who has experience of UK speedway and British debutant, Polish rider, Adam Pietraszko.

Wolter, 27, first rode in the UK for Sheffield in June 1996, and remained with the Tigers till the end of 1997, before dropping out on the UK scene. Last year he came back to Britain to ride in 8 matches for Trelawney Tigers. He finished top of the rostrum on May 16th this year in the German National Championship (round one) finishing ahead of current Champ Matthias Schultz and Jorg Pingel, himself a former Berwick rider.

Wolter has been desperately keen to get back into UK speedway, and looks upon this opening with Berwick as the perfect opportunity to prove his talent to all on these shores. His German club is Brokstedt.

Pietraszk, on the other hand, is virtually a brand new name to the vast majority of British fans. He is a 21 year-old Pole who has spent recent times riding in his own country for Opole. His current Polish League average is a creditable 10.26, and is keen to do as well over here. He has also appeared to Polish Extraleague team Czestochowa with some solid results.

He has also been racing in Germany recently, scoring 7 in the Auerhahn Cup at the Arena am Kellerholz beating such established stars as Australian Steve Johnston on his way through the heats.

Both riders are expected to add significant excitement-factor to the Bandit's performances, and a good few points as well.

Berwick Promoter Peter Waite said, "We could not go on with the injuries we have suffered recently, and I had been eyeing up these two riders recently. So having been presented with the perfect chance to get them signed and in the side, I couldn't hang back and wait, I had to act, and I'm delighted we will see both Mirko and Adam in our race colours as soon as this Saturday.

"The Premier League, let alone Berwick, has seen precious few Poles over the years, and I am looking forward to seeing him blast round our big circuit."

"Their inclusion in the Berwick side will really strengthen us up, to the extent I'm hoping to have several clubs really having to think before they take us on. Our fans want success, and I think Mirko and Adam can go a long way to helping us gain some this year. I'm always in speedway to win, and that's what I'm hoping to see more of in the near future."

Berwick's Czech rider Josef "Pepe" Franc misses this Saturday's match as he is riding away at the Lonigo track in the World Championship qualifier semi-final. Rider-replacement will cover his absence.