Workington Comets set to race at Redcar

Workington Comets make a delayed start to the new speedway season tonight when they race at Redcar in the BSN Series group clash against the Bears.

The two should have met in the first leg at Northside on Saturday, but the poor weather forecast caused the meeting to be postponed along with the scheduled rearranged press and practice the previous day.

Workington, sponsored by GT Tyres, go into the clash with three new signings, three members of last year’s team and returning former British champion Craig Cook for his fourth spell with the club.

New at number one is 28-year-old Jonas Jeppesen, a former Danish under-21 champion who earned 12 points for Belle Vue on Monday across two meetings in a Premiership Knockout Cup double-header against Leicester.

His fellow countryman, 18-year-old Niklas Holm Jakobsen also makes his Comets debut at number two. He’s regarded as one of the most exciting emerging talents on the European speedway scene.

The third new recruit is 17-year-old reserve Jamie Etherington, one of three youngsters who have stepped up from the British Youth scene to Championship level in 2026.

Fellow reserve Vinnie Foord is back for a second season at Northside after a very promising debut campaign suggesting he had a big part to play this time round.

The 2026 line-up is completed by two familiar figures in heat leader roles – West Cumbrian Craig Cook and Australian skipper Troy Batchelor – and the returning Australian Tate Zischke.

Batchelor, a former Speedway GP rider who has represented his country at World Cup level is returning to Northside for his third successive season while Cleator-based Cook, who was crowned British Speedway champion in 2017 returns for his fourth spell with the Comets.

Zischke is back for a third season on the trot and has laps already under his belt having ridden in the Ben Fund meeting around Glasgow’s Ashfield, and in Belle Vue’s early meetings.

The Bears — who have proved something of a bogey side for the Comets in recent times — reached the Championship play-offs last term and already have two BSN Series meetings under their belts this season.

They were beaten at Scunthorpe in their opening outing but bounced back with a resounding 58-32 success in the return leg against the Scorpions.

There is a familiar feel about boss Gavin Parr’s class of 2026 with five of their seven riders from last year having been retained.

However, they have already been forced into shuffling their pack after losing experienced Charles Wright, also an ex-British champion, to injury in the recent Tyne Tees Trophy clash against Newcastle Diamonds Select.

Stepping in for Wright at number one is Nicolai Klindt — a member of Workington’s 2018 treble-winning team who recently celebrated his testimonial meeting.

Redcar’s two new signings are Jordan Jenkins and Aussie Jake Allen, who fill their other two heat leader slots, at three and five, respectively. Jenkins, despite an injury hit season in 2025 helped Ipswich Witches win the Premiership title, while Allen scored 10 points in last Friday’s victory over Scunthorpe.

Jason Edwards is back at the Ecco Arena, captains the team and rides at four this weekend. Edwards, like Klindt, bagged an 11+2-point haul in the Bears’ triumph against the Scorpions.

Nineteen-year-old ex-Workington rider Ace Pijper was crowned British under-19 champion two years ago, and rides at number two tonight. The Bears’ reserves are Jake Mulford, at six, and 19-year-old Jody Scott.

Barry Collins will step in to manage the Comets at Redcar in the absence of James Denham.

He said: “Tonight is a good early test for us, but it’s one we’re looking forward to as we finally start the season. Redcar are a strong side, they’ve already had meetings under their belts and a good win against Scunthorpe.

“From our point of view, it’s about making a solid start, bedding the new lads in, and showing what we’re about as a team.

“We’ve got a good mix in there — experience, youth, and a lot of potential — and this is the first opportunity to put that into practice in a competitive setting.

“There’s plenty of quality throughout the side, and if everyone does their job, there’s no reason we can’t go there and win. It’s the first meeting of the season, so naturally there’s a bit of unknown, but we’re ready for it.”