Workington Comets began their 2025 Cab Direct Championship league campaign in fine style with a well-earned 51-39 victory over the visiting Plymouth Gladiators at the GT Tyres Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Following a brief delay to allow passing heavy rainfall to clear, the excellent drainage at the GT Tyres Arena allowed the meeting to commence under quickly improving conditions.
The visitors made the stronger start, securing a 5-1 advantage in the opening heat courtesy of Nicolai Klindt and Alfie Bowtell.
Klindt, in particular, produced a faultless display throughout the meeting, registering an impressive full 18-point maximum from his six outings.
However, Comets quickly responded in Heat 2, with reserve Jacob Hook taking the win after Plymouth’s Cluff presumably saw the chequered flag a lap early, slowing down and impeding Vinnie Foord’s run into bend one – sending Foord into the fence subsequently seeing him dubiously excluded to the dismay of the home crowd.
The following heats were closely contested with a further three shared heats, with neither side able to establish a significant early lead.
It was in Heat 6 where the tide began to turn in favour of the home side. Skipper Troy Batchelor and guest Jonatan Grahn gated superbly to secure a crucial 5-1 maximum over Ben Barker and Cluff, drawing the scores level at 18-18.
Comets then seized control in Heat 7 as Hook and Antti Vuolas combined for another 5-1 advantage to put daylight between the two sides for the first time.
Grahn continued his strong form by claiming Heat 8, and although Plymouth’s tactical substitute Klindt won Heat 9, Workington maintained their advantage.
Heat 10 proved pivotal as Batchelor and Grahn capitalised on a fall by Lasse Fredriksen to secure their second 5-1 of the afternoon, extending the Comets’ lead to eight points.
Despite the outstanding individual efforts of 2018 treble-winning Comet Klindt, who remained unbeaten by an opponent all afternoon, Plymouth were unable to offer sufficient team support to close the gap.
Comets’ strength in depth proved pivotal on the, with a solid one to seven effort.
Jye Etheridge produced a stunning ride in Heat 14 to carve his way from last to first with Jacob Hook squeezing through the narrowest of gaps to seal the match victory with a decisive 5-1.
The final score of 51-39 reflected a solid all-round team performance from the Comets, with team boss James Denham hoping his side can take confidence from this display into their upcoming fixture.
He said: “I am proud of the team, all seven of them, they rode phenomenally.
“Jonatan was a great guest, he flew round here with Edinburgh and that’s why we chose him so a huge thanks to him, but if Jacob Hook continues like that all year watch out.
“Both Jacob and Antti dusted off old engines out of the workshop, it seems like they have found something hidden away that they didn’t know about.
“Tate had jumped on his second bike for his last ride as he bent his forks but he really needed that win in his last ride.
“He will build on this as he determined and wants to do well – he just needs to think ahead instead of behind.
“We are away at Berwick, Oxford and Redcar next, and they will be tough, but we do have Jye at Berwick and we will have to make some changes to the line-up to suit us and play to our strengths.”
