Howarth in as Covatti's fight to regain full fitness continues

PLYMOUTH Gladiators boss Garry May says the club can't keep putting a semi-fit Nico Covatti out on the track and expect to win meetings as the number one continues to struggle for fitness.

- STUART JAMES

The 35-year-old Argentine, who suffered serious arj and leg injuries in a crash bacjk in his homeland in January, made his long-awaited debut for the Gladiators in the 58-32 BSN Series Cup defeat at Poole Pirates on May 24 and was then due to have his first outing on home shale in the return leg in Plymouth on Saturday.

But after failing to score a point at Poole from the only two races he was fit to ride at Wimborne Road, Covatti was not fit enough to ride at the Coliseum, which saw May use the rider replacement facility to compensate for his absence.

The lack of a genuine top class rider told, though, with Plymouth picking up just three points from his scheduled four rides. A 47-43 defeat saw Poole qualify to the semi-finals at Plymouth's expense and with them now out of the KO Cup and BSN Series, Championship points and competing to make the end of season play-offs is all they have left to ride for.

That starts tonight with the visit of Redcar Bears with May bringing back Kyle Howarth to the Coliseum as a guest for Covatti at number one.