Workington Comets will be without Ace Pijper for the weekend double header in the National Development League against Belle Vue Colts.
The Comets ride in Manchester tonight and then host the Colts tomorrow afternoon in the return at Northside.
But heat leader Pijper will be an absentee after a crash riding in the Championship with Glasgow at Poole earlier in the week.
Comets team manager James Denham said: “Ace has damaged his shoulder and wrist so will be out for a couple of weeks so we are having to use rider replacement for him this weekend.”
This is the first time the Comets have faced Belle Vue in over 23 years and the last encounter was for an Inter-League Challenge match in April 2000.
The Colts are part of the world-famous Belle Vue Aces outfit with notable international riders previously part of the Colts in the past including local hero and former Comet, Dan Bewley from Maryport.
Denham said: “This weekend is going to be a thrilling weekend of speedway. Our lads will be relishing the chance of riding the National Speedway Stadium. Sam and Harry McGurk obviously rode for the Colts last season so they will be out to prove a point.
“Crangy had a practice at Northside last weekend and has recovered well from an awkward crash at Oxford last week.
“Connor is on top form everywhere at the moment even racking up high scores for the Belle Vue Aces in the Premiership. So we are expecting him to carry on his sparkling form at his Premiership home track on Friday. Hopefully, he can pass on advice to the other lads and get us firing and dialled in from the start.”
Without Pijper in the line-up the Comets will be operating a number 8 in local lad and Workington Meteor rider, Callum Foy tonight.
In actual fact the Colts will be a patched-up side for tonight’s encounter in Manchester – with number one James Pearson, unavailable due to a fixture for his Championship club Plymouth. But Jacob Hook will come in as a guest.
Also, Sam Hagon is unavailable due to a fixture for his Championship club, Birmingham. so rider replacement will be in operation for him tonight.
Belle Vue will be handing a full NDL debut to new signing and reserve Jack Shimelt on Friday with Paul Bowen stepping down from the line-up.
However, the Colts will be looking to make up for regular absences in their septet with experienced Jack Smith captaining the side, as well as hoping their second-strings Matt Marson and Freddy Hodder will also be in the points.
For Saturday’s home clash, the Northside Arena is a track not too dissimilar to the National Speedway Stadium, to set-up a thrilling encounter for the return fixture.
Belle Vue will be bolstered by the return of number one James Pearson and number three Sam Hagon tomorrow.
Pearson, Hagon, and Jack Smith are no strangers to the Northside Arena with Sam Hagon winning the Under-21 qualifier at Northside back in May as well as James Pearson and Jack Smith starring in the recent Susan Roper Memorial Grand Prix.
Smith claimed second on the podium in the Susan Roper Memorial GP behind Ashton Boughen, complementing the excellent racing at the Northside Arena.
Belle Vue co-boss Graham Goodwin said: “We are more than aware that the Comets side contains a number of familiar faces, not least Connor who is piling in the points for the Premiership Aces.
“This will be a challenge, no doubt about it. Even though Workington cannot make the NDL top two, I’m certain they’ll be doing everything they can to spoil our weekend.
“A full five league points are on offer for us in the next 24 hours and if we want to have any chance of making the play-offs then we need to ensure we take every single one of them.”
Saturday’s home meeting gets underway at 3pm while tapes are up tonight at 7.30pm.
