(SPEEDWAY 1)SOMERSET'S Jay Herne is facing a race to be fit for the start of the new season after suffering a knee injury in Australia.Herne has required a skin graft after the incident in the Australian Longtrack Championship and the Rebels are assessing contingency plans for a possible short-term replacement.Promoter Debbie Hancock said: "While we hope that Jay will be fit for the start of the season, skin grafts can take a time to 'bed in' and we do not want him to rush back if he is not 100% fit. "We received a reduction in Steve Boxall's initial starting average to 6.88 from the BSPA Management Committee, which was double his 2009 Elite League average with Poole, and gives us 5.84 to play with should we need to bring in any short-term replacement for Jay." (SPEEDWAY 2)BENJI Compton is returning to Scunthorpe to take the No.1 position in their National League team.Compton, at 23, will be the oldest rider in the Saints' line-up having first represented the club in their re-launch season of 2005. Team boss Malcolm Vasey said: "Benji has done it all before for Scunthorpe at this level.  He was a mainstay of the championship winning sides of 2006 and 2007 and is a good character to have around the team."He will start the campaign in the number one race jacket and if he hits the form that we know he is capable of it will be difficult for anyone to shifthim.   "Let's not forget he won the Conference League Riders' Championship less than eighteen months ago and on his day he can beat virtually anyone anywhere at National League level."