Workington Comets face another weekend double header, racing at Edinburgh tonight and at home to Plymouth on Saturday (3pm).
It’s been a particularly tough start to the season for the Comets as they missed out on progress in the KO Cup and the BSN Series and these two fixtures launch the start of their Cab Direct Championship league campaign.
Injuries to Niklas Holm Jakobsen, Craig Cook and Vinnie Foord, along with a change of reserve, have not helped in the opening weeks.
But Holm Jakobsen, one of several new signings for 2026, makes a welcome return to Comets action this weekend after missing the last three meetings after a crash at Berwick in a Knockout Cup outing a fortnight ago.
Ex-British champion Cook remains absent as he continues to recover from a shoulder problem, while reserve Vinnie Foord — in his second season at the GT Tyres Arena, Northside — is also still on the comeback trail after a crash in the season opener at Redcar in early April.
As in previous weeks, the Comets promotion have reshuffled their pack as they prepare for the two matches. Manager James Denham will run rider replacement for heat leader Cook at both the Edinburgh and Plymouth matches.
Darryl Ritchings — who is riding for Oxford Cheetahs in 2026 — guests for Foord at Armadale this evening (7.30pm start), while Ryan Ingram also heads north of the border and steps in for recently-signed reserve rider Max Perry.
Nineteen-year-old Perry is committed elsewhere this weekend at an under-23 FIM event in the Netherlands.
Ingram has already donned Comets colours this month having guested for Foord in a narrow BSN Series loss to visiting Redcar last Saturday. Comets, who recorded an excellent win at Scunthorpe the previous evening, have bowed out of that competition.
For tomorrow’s visit of Plymouth, Edinburgh’s Mitch Cluff — a former Plymouth rider — steps in for Foord while National Development League rider Mickie Simpson, of Kings Lynn Young Stars, replaces Perry.
Edinburgh will be without number one Dan Thompson tonight, due to a broken collarbone, with Nick Morris coming in to guest.
Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “It is a huge blow to lose Dan but I think Nick is as good a guest as we could have got.
“Workington I think have a strong top four in theory but it’s not as strong as our top five really, which I think is as good as any in the league. If they perform at home as they did last Friday then that will be fine
Looking at the two meeting Comets team boss James Denham said: “It was obviously a disappointing result against Redcar at home last weekend after the good win away at Scunthorpe the night before, but our injury problems certainly haven’t helped us at all over the last couple of weeks.
“Craig has been receiving physio and treatment throughout the week and has done everything possible to try and be fit, but unfortunately he still isn’t ready to return, while Vinnie is still targeting a comeback around the middle of May. But there is positive news for us in that Niklas is back in the side.
“It’s the start of the league campaign now and we want to get off to a strong start, but they are two very tough meetings for us. Edinburgh showed what they are capable of by winning at Glasgow last week and they also bring in a very strong guest at number one in Nick Morris.
“Plymouth have also shown plenty of promise this season and they’ve put together a bold-looking side. It will be interesting to see how both Daniel Klima and Anze Grmek settle around Northside”
Following the Championship meeting against Plymouth on Saturday, the 250cc and 500cc rounds of the British Youth Championships.
Workington Alwell Glass Meteors are also in Northern Junior League action away to West Lothian Wildcats on Friday night
The Alwell Glass Meteors, managed by Baz Collins, have Jack Shimelt at one, Laylen Richardson at two, Junior Travers at three and George Climo at four.
Wildcats’ team is Lee Harrison, Rocco Webb, Lewis Hague and Callum Hague.
Friday
EDINBURGH MONARCHS: 1. Nick Morris (8.81), 2. Jonatan Grahn (5.29), 3. Justin Sedgmen (7.52), 4. Paco Castagna (C) (6.94), 5. Kye Thomson (6.15), 6. Mitch Cluff (3.00), 7. Jordy Loftus (2.41). Team Manager: Alex Harkess.
WORKINGTON COMETS: 1. Jonas Jeppesen (8.48), 2. Niklas Holm Jakobsen (5.00), 3. Craig Cook R/R, 4. Tate Zischke (5.23), 5. Troy Batchelor (C) (6.75), 6. Darryl Ritchings (3.89), 7. Ryan Ingram (2.29). Team Manager: James Denham.
Saturday
WORKINGTON COMETS: 1. Jonas Jeppesen (8.48), 2. Niklas Holm Jakobsen (5.00), 3. Craig Cook R/R, 4. Tate Zischke (5.23), 5. Troy Batchelor (C) (6.75), 6. Mitchell Cluff (3.89), 7. Mickie Simpson (2.29). Team Manager: James Denham.
PLYMOUTH GLADIATORS: 1. Danny King (C) (8.51), 2. Joe Thompson (5.86), 3. Daniel Klima (5.21), 4. Ben Barker (6.80), 5. Scott Nicholls (7.33), 6. Anze Grmek (4.00), 7. Tom Spencer (2.00). Team Manager: Garry May.
