Workington Comets have released teenage reserve Jamie Etherington after mutually agreeing to part ways.
It has been clear that the step up to Championship level has proved a tough introduction for the young British rider, and following discussions after the recent MAXiCab Knockout Cup fixtures against Berwick, Jamie and his family considered the situation with the promotion.
Together, it was agreed that the demands and pressures of racing at this level may have come slightly too early at this stage of his career.
In a statement Workington Speedway said: “As a club, Workington Speedway remains fully committed to supporting British Speedway and developing young British talent.
“With that in mind, both parties feel this decision is the right one to ensure that Jamie’s long-term progression and future in the sport are not affected.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Jamie for his efforts in Comets colours and wishes him all the very best, in his no doubt very bright future in the sport.
“The promotion has considered numerous options to replace Jamie and a further announcement will be made very soon.”
The Comets already have fellow reserve Vinnie Foord out with injury, and the club has given an update on his progress.
Foord is targeting an approximate mid-May return to the side.
The young Brit suffered a fractured knee during the first meeting at Redcar, but recent treatment and progress is putting the 19-year-old in good stead for a return.
An absentee in the second leg fixture with Berwick on Sunday was Niklas Holm Jakobsen who had suffered a nasty heat eight spill at Berwick on Saturday night, and returned to Denmark that night for further assessment.
Further investigations revealed that he has chipped a bone in his arm, but more positively is only expected to miss a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile the Berwick rider involved in the pile-up, Reid Battye has fared even worse.
It has been confirmed he’s suffered a broken t7 vertebrae, along with a broken nose, bruised chin and some bruised ribs. The vertebrae break was stable enough for him to be released from hospital on Sunday night.
He will now require a spell on the side lines as the injuries heal but has said he will do everything in his power to get back to 100% as soon as possible.
In other updates from Saturday the Workington promotion have reported another incident in the meeting to the Speedway Control Board.
The Comets said: “Some key moments included a dubious decision which remarkably saw the referee reverse a decision and exclude Craig Cook in heat 4, based on new fan footage provided and added input from the Berwick stadium announcer – after the initial decision to exclude Berwick’s Reid Battye was confirmed.”
Cook dislocated his shoulder at Berwick on Saturday night at the end of his final ride and missed Sunday’s return at Northside.
He will receive treatment this week and is currently expecting to be back in the line-up for this weekend’s two BSN Series clashes at Scunthorpe on Friday, May 1 and then at home to Redcar on Saturday, May 2.
