Tomi leads the hunt for a semi-final place
Last updated 11:43, Tuesday, 17 June 2008
TOMI Reima aims to put his home form on show tonight when Workington Comets need every point they can muster on the Isle of Wight.
The new Finnish number two has made a big impact at Derwent Park, quickly becoming a crowd favourite, but wants points on the road.
Workington travel to the island with a 15-point lead from the home leg, but without number one Daniel Nermark and no equivalent guest.
He says: “I am enjoying life in Workington and I am happy with my form at Derwent Park.
“But I really do need to score some points away from home as I have not been contributing as much as I would have liked.
“I hear, though, that the Isle of Wight track is pretty similar to Workington’s so that might suit me more.
“We have a lead to defend but being without Daniel will make it difficult but there’s a good spirit in the team and I am going there looking for a place in the semi-final.”
Reima, 34, scored seven and two bonus points in the 53-38 home win over the Islanders and in his two other matches for the Comets at Derwent Park has scored five on his debut and seven and two bonus points last Saturday against Birmingham.
His form away from home has not been as eye-catching as he scored one and a bonus at King’s Lynn; three at Glasgow and two points at Birmingham last Wednesday.
Team manager Ian Thomas said: “I’m happy with Tomi because he’s comeind done a solid job for us. His scores at Workington have been good, but it isn’t easy sometimes coming in and scoring right away on different type of away tracks.
“I’m sure he’s going to get good points for us away from home and where better to start than the Isle of Wight.
“I think without Daniel we have to be second favourites as it’s going to be tough just using Jay Herne in the number one slot. He’s a promising rider in the Conference but it’s a different proposition riding at number one in a Premier League match away from home.”
Nermark is riding in the Swedish League tonight and Workington can only bring in a Conference League rider as his replacement.
Herne rode at number five for Weymouth on Saturday and scored nine and two bonus points in a big 62-31 home win over Rye House. That was after suffering a first race fall.
He was also out in the nominated riders’ race and finished second behind team-mate Luke Priest who top-scored with 12 points.
