Workington Comets are aiming to end their 2025 Cab Direct Championship season on a high this weekend.
They are preparing again for a previously postponed away and home double-header against Berwick Bandits.
But with an extreme weather forecast over the weekend everyone is just hoping that the matches aren’t affected.
Comets have missed out on an end-of-year play-off berth, seeing their slim hopes vanish as they were beaten last Friday on their trip to an impressive Redcar Bears outfit who are still fighting for silverware on three fronts.
However, the Comets are keen to finish their competitive year strongly as they travel to Shielfield Park tonight (7pm start), before the scheduled return fixture against the Bandits at the GT Tyres Arena, Northside tomorrow.
There will be no shortage of talent on show for spectators at the two venues — particularly as some riders from both sides are celebrating international call-ups.
For Comets, Antti Vuolas has been named in Finland’s team for the forthcoming FIM Speedway of Nations, to be held later this month in the Polish city of Torun.
At the prestigious event, a Great Britain side featuring SGP star Dan Bewley, from Maryport, will be aiming to defend a title they won memorably in Manchester last year.
In the Speedway of Nations 2, Comets’ Tate Zischke and Berwick’s Sam Hagon — British under-21 champion for the past two years — have been named, respectively, in the Australia and Great Britain line-ups.
Comets will be at full strength for Saturday’s trip to Berwick. Skipper Troy Bachelor and Zischke — who top-scored in last week’s defeat at Redcar, occupy heat leader spots at one and three.
Ex-Bandit Jye Etheridge — who has extensive knowledge of Shielfield Park — is named as the other heat leader, at five, with Vuolas moving to four for the trip.
Fraser Bowes is at number two on Saturday while the reserves for both weekend meetings will be Jacob Hook — scorer of 7+1 points at Redcar — and Vinnie Foord.
For the home return on Sunday, Vuolas returns to number five. Etheridge reverts to four and the Comets will run rider replacement in the absence of Bowes due to commitments in Poland.
Club director Andrew Bain manages the team at Berwick, with regular boss James Denham returning tomorrow for what is both sides’ final fixture.
Berwick will be unchanged for both meetings. Drew Kemp skippers the Bandits at number one. Jonas Jeppessen and Nick Morris are their other heat leaders. Hagon riders at two, popular ex-Comet Peter Kildemand is at four, and their two reserves are Dayle Wood and Jack Smith.
Stewart Dickson manages the Berwick team, who trounced Plymouth Gladiators last Saturday in their penultimate home meeting.
Late-season signings Jeppesen and Morris both scored double figures with 12+2 and 10+1, respectively, while Kemp marked his elevation to the number one spot with 12+1
Workington will again stage their popular kids’ running race on Sunday during the heat 11 interval on what promises to be a great day for all the family.
Comets team boss Denham said: “This year hasn’t always gone the way we’d hoped, and missing out on the play-offs was tough, but I can’t fault the effort and commitment the lads have shown all season.
“They’ve battled hard against strong opposition, and now we’ve got one final weekend to show what we’re about as a team.
“These two matches against Berwick give us the chance to end the year on a positive note, and I know every rider in the side wants to give our fans something to cheer about.
“The supporters have been brilliant home and away, sticking with us through the ups and downs, and I can’t stress enough how much that means to the team.
“So I really want to see as many fans as possible down at the GT Tyres Arena on Sunday to support the team one last time this season. Let’s pack the place out, enjoy the racing, and sign off the season in style.”
Line-ups
Saturday
Berwick Bandits
- Drew Kemp (c) 8.12
- Sam Hagon 3.42
- Jonas Jeppesen 8.00
- Peter Kildemand 8.05
- Nick Morris 6.62
- Dayle Wood 2.12
- Jack Smith 2.73
TM – Stewart Dickson
Workington Comets
- Troy Batchelor (C) – 7.47
- Fraser Bowes – 5.73
- Tate Zischke – 5.98
- Antti Vuolas – 7.10
- Jye Etheridge – 5.46
- Jacob Hook – 5.42
- Vinnie Foord- 3.78
TM – Andrew Bain
Sunday
Workington Comets
- Troy Batchelor (C) – 7.47
- Fraser Bowes R/R – 5.73
- Tate Zischke – 5.98
- Jye Etheridge – 5.46
- Antti Vuolas – 7.10
- Jacob Hook – 5.42
- Vinnie Foord- 3.78
TM – James Denham
Berwick Bandits
- Drew Kemp (c) 8.12
- Sam Hagon 3.42
- Jonas Jeppesen 8.00
- Peter Kildemand 8.05
- Nick Morris 6.62
- Dayle Wood 2.12
- Jack Smith 2.73
TM – Stewart Dickson
