The big news in Cumbrian sport is return of the Workington Comets who will be racing in speedway’s National Development League.
So the obvious man to chat with is the new promoter for the new-look Comets, Andrew Bain.
Andrew, just to start with can you tell me a bit about yourself and how long you have been interested in speedway/bikes?
I’ve always had an interest in bikes from a early age. Me and my friends used to fly about fields around Bothel where I grew up.
Really it was on anything we could get our hands on but when leaving school and starting work I could afford a motocross bike so started racing for a few years.
Then after that bought an old Westlake which I used on the beach. And from then on I was hooked on speedway.
Over the years you will have seen a number of Workington teams at Derwent Park. Who have been your favourite riders and why?
There have been a lot of very good riders over the years at Derwent Park. In that time one of my favourite riders would have to be Carl Stonehewer.
But in 2018 one of the best riders ever in a Comets bib would have to be our local hero Dan Bewley. That boy has got talent. I just hope he can carry on from where he left off last season.
When Comets folded in 2018 what was your immediate reaction? Did you realise then you wanted to bring them back or was that later?
When the Comets finished in 2018 I had just taken over the track at Northside. I’d never thought speedway would have gone from Derwent Park.
It was a real shame after all the hard work Laura had put into speedway and not returning in 2019 meant it was a big miss. Then COVID came along and I had thoughts of building a bigger track at Northside and that’s how it started.
You had acquired the Northside training track but how much work has had to be done to make it fit for National Development League speedway?
When we started developing the track for National League at first it was going to be 200 metres but after a bit we changed to 240 metres.
Now it measures 300 metres as we just wanted to build a big safe track.
There has been a lot of work done with new fences, track laid and pits built.
This wouldn’t have been done by now if it wasn’t for all the volunteers week in week out – hail, rain and snow. They should be all proud of themselves and what they have achieved.
Steve Lawson has been heavily involved Andrew, how valuable has his knowledge and speedway know how been in the preparations?
When I started clearing the site to put a new track in I called Steve to help me move in the right direction.
You couldn’t get a better man for his knowledge. He’s been a real big influence and has helped every week-end with the build.
What still needs to be done for the track to be ready for a first public meeting and how many fans will you be able to cater for?
There’s still plenty to do before the first meeting. Changing rooms need built, lights need put in around track and handrails need put up .
I don’t know really how many fans we can cater for until we’ve had our health and safety inspection.
What has been the response from other tracks and speedway people about you returning to league speedway?
The response has been really good from press, social media and clubs and riders. There is a big buzz about Workington making a return. The governing body from the sport have been really good too.
Obviously fans are going to be interested in the team you put together. How are plans progressing with that?
Team building is going very well. In the National League it’s all about development and about bringing young riders on.
The team we have picked is full of young talent. Riders will be getting announced very soon. I just hope the fans are as excited as us about the team when it comes out.
Describe your feelings when you were officially told that the Comets had been accepted to ride again in a National League.
When we were told that we’ve been accepted for the 2023 season I was really buzzing.
All the hard work we’ve done has paid off. It took a bit to sink in really that speedway would return to Workington. It’s been a big miss for people.
It’s just over four months to the start of the new season. What are your targets for the Comets first season back in competitive action?
All I want is riders to enjoy the season with us and the fans to get behind them so that we will see what happens.
Who knows it would be nice to finish in the top three but it’s going to be a learning curve for us all.
