Workington Comets have been reborn – in more ways than one!
After a traumatic start to the season on and off the track the Comets have bounced back in rude health.
Worrying administrative matters were eventually put to bed and when racing again the team has been unstoppable.
After beating champions and current leaders Poole, they followed up with a comprehensive 58-32 win at Northside against the Scunthorpe Scorpions.
They had 11 race winners; only ran three last places and conceded just three heat advantages.
Skipper Troy Batchelor (16 + 1) and fellow Australian Fraser Bowes (14 + 1) both had their best meetings so far while Tate Zischke (9 + 2) continued his rehabilitation after last year’s season-ending injury.
As for Scunthorpe, they had to rely heavily on number one Steve Worrall (12) and former young Comet Luke Harrison (8 + 1).
Apart from Worrall, Connor Mountain was the only Scorpion to win a race.
After the first race, when he finished second to Worrall, and then followed home Bowes in his second outing, Batchelor reeled off four straight wins.
The Comets opted to use rider replacement for the absent Antti Vuolas who was on international duty, and it served them well after the first heat,
Zischke failed to score in a Scunthorpe 4-2 but after that the rider replacement did its job with 8 plus one.
So with the season up and running, after two impressive home wins, there’s a big test in prospect on Wednesday.
Comets team manager James Denham said: “It’s a fantastic result and I couldn’t be any more proud. These guys just keep proving everyone wrong.
“I think we’re a force to be reckoned with, especially around here. We knew we had to make this place a fortress and we didn’t at the start of the year, but these guys have covered Antti’s rides brilliantly as well.”
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It was borderline embarrassing. We only had a few riders coming to the tapes, and coupled with Friday it’s been one of the most disappointing 48 hours of my life.
“When I put a team together, I put it together believing we can get to the play-offs, but at this rate it’s going to be about avoiding the wooden spoon.
“We started in Heat 14 basically, and I apologise to the Scunthorpe fans, I feel your pain more than anybody.”
The Comets travel to Poole to take on the Pirates who will still be smarting from that shock defeat at Northside a week ago.
Workington Comets 58: Troy Batchelor 16+1; Rider replacement for Antti Vuolas; Fraser Bowes 14+1; Jye Etheridge 8+3; Tate Zischke 9+2; Jacob Hook 7; Vinnie Foord 4.
Scunthorpe Scorpions 32: Steve Worrall 12; Simon Lambert 1; Declan Kennedy 1; Connor Mountain 5; Jake Allen 0; Luke Harrison 8+1; Zaine Kennedy 5.
