THE Somerset Rebels plans for the 2015 speedway season have taken a blow with German International Max Dilger requesting to be released from the team due to personal reasons.

With the start of the new season now less than a week away, the Rebels have signed Benji Compton as Dilger’s replacement.

Somerset team manager Garry May said: “Unfortunately Max feels that he cannot commit to the UK at this moment in time due to personal reason back in Germany.

“The news is a blow not just for ourselves, but for Max as well, as he was really looking forward to racing for Somerset having spent over £10,000 on new equipment, but in saying that, given the circumstance behind his requests, we had no hesitation in agreeing to release Max from the team.”

“Obviously with the start of the new season just around the corner, this does leave us with a rider vacancy to fill at quite short notice, and we have signed Benji Compton, a past winner of the National League Riders’ Championship, as Max’s replacement.”

“Benji is another rider who has spent a small fortune on new equipment for 2015, but, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, finds himself without a team place for the new season, this after having spent the past two campaigns with the Kent Kings in the National League and will join the Rebels on a 3.18 starting average.”