Workington Comets back on track this weekend

Workington Comets blast back into action this weekend with a Championship tussle against reigning champions and current league leaders Poole Pirates.

The Comets got their 2025 league season off to a winning start last month with a 51-39 victory over Plymouth Gladiators at the GT Tyres Arena.

And after an enforced three-week break from competitive action, manager James Denham and his line-up of riders entertain Poole tomorrow, keen to build on that opening victory.

Both teams are at full strength for a must-see meeting which will start at 6pm — the new time for all of Comets’ forthcoming fixtures as they seek to attract bumper crowds.

Troy Batchelor skippers the home side with Tate Zischke and Antti Vuolas filling the other heat leader slots.

Zischke continued his improved form this week. The all-action Aussie claimed a heat win for his Premiership side, Belle Vue Aces, in their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership triumph over Birmingham Brummies on Monday; and then on Tuesday netted a 5+1 points haul while riding in Poland.

New signings for 2025 and fellow Aussies Fraser Bowes, Jye Etheridge and Jacob Hook will ride a numbers two, four and six, respectively, for Comets.

Vinnie Foord — who celebrates his 19th birthday tomorrow and was a member of Poole’s treble trophy-winning team in 2024 — lines up at seven against his former side after picking up a debut Premiership guest booking at Ipswich on Thursday night.

Zach Cook captains a Poole team who have won six of their seven league matches so far this season — including a success against second placed Glasgow Tigers last time out.

There is a familiar face at number one for the Pirates this weekend in the shape of experienced Whitehaven-born Richard Lawson, a 39-year-old former Comet who is in his fourth season at Poole. Lawson raced to a 15-point maximum in the recent victory over Glasgow.

Anders Rowe has returned to Poole this year having first raced for the side in 2023, while Tobias Thomsen, a Dane, was part of the successful Poole team last year. Well travelled Lewis Kerr is back at Wimborne Road this term after a debut spell in 2017.

Paul Starke — drafted into the Comets lineup midway through last season after the departure of Celina Liebmann — makes his return to the GT Tyres Arena this weekend as Poole’s number six.

At seven is one of British speedway’s hottest young prospects. Sixteen-year-old William Cairns has hit the ground running, winning two races on his Poole debut against Glasgow on his way to 8+1 points.

The Pirates are managed by colourful former rider Gary Havelock, who was world champion in 1992.

Comets team boss James Denham said: “It’s great to be back, we have two sides at full-strength and a fantastic weather forecast ahead.

“The last two weeks have been really tough on the club, but we’ve worked through the issues and are back and raring to go – as are the riders.

“The lads have been speaking throughout, they are like coiled springs, and are just desperate to get back out on track as a team. It will be a really feisty clash against Poole as it always is – but I think the eagerness our riders have been storing the last couple of weeks will show on track.

“For one Vinnie will be hungry to please in front of his old club, and Jacob will be looking to continue where he left off a few weeks ago against Plymouth. Fraser and Tate have been riding plenty in Poland and the Premiership, so hopefully we can hit the ground running and give the fans some brilliant racing that they’ve missed.

“If you haven’t visited Northside yet, come along – you will love it. If you know someone who used to attend, invite them too; a warm welcome awaits.

“We’ve put in huge effort and money to build up this venue, we have a one of the best tracks in the country – and are determined to keep it, and that starts with getting back on track this weekend.”