Speedway By John Walsh

Last updated 11:44, Tuesday, 01 July 2008

WORKINGTON Comets fans won’t be able to greet their conquering heroes at Derwent Park on Saturday for the match with Redcar Bears.

One half of the duo which won the Premier League Best Pairs at Somerset on Friday will be missing.

Comets number one Daniel Nermark, who partnered Kauko Nieminen to victory at the Oak Tree Arena, is away on Grand Prix qualifying duty.

The qualifying has reached the semi-final stage and Nermark is in action at Terenzano in Italy as he tries to earn a place in next year’s Grand Prix series.

In fact Workington will be without three riders against the Bears and will

be using two guests as they seek to maintain their Premier League title challenge.

Teenage starlet Joe Haines is travelling to Estonia to take part in the European Under-19s Championships while Tomi Reima is still away in Finland.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “We can’t use James Wright this time because the averages have changed so I have booked King’s Lynn’s Kevin Doolan to ride as a guest at number one.

“We will operate rider replacement for Joe at number four which means one of his rides can be taken by the rider above him in the averages, which is Stoney.”