Comets fans to welcome home Pairs hero Kauko
Last updated 10:07, Saturday, 05 July 2008
There won’t be a prouder man on parade at Derwent Park tonight than Workington Comets skipper Kauko Nieminen.
The popular Finn will be able to stick his chest out just a tad more after helping the Comets to the Premier League Best Pairs title at Somerset.
Nieminen is guaranteed a huge welcome home by the fans, even though his partner on the night – Daniel Nermark – is away riding in Italy.
“I always thought that we would have a chance at the Oak Tree Arena and it was a great feeling to win it.
“Twelve months earlier James Wright and I were knocked out in the semi-finals and we finished fourth overall after being beaten in the B final.
“After that it was great to go back to the track and come out on top.
“Winning the title means a lot to me because that was probably my biggest meeting this year in Britain and there is clearly nothing better than winning it,” he said.
Nieminen, one of the gentlemen of speedway, was a popular winner throughout the sport and now he’s got his sights on the Premier League Fours later this month.
His Best Pairs partner Nermark has even got a treble in his sights because as well as the Fours he will be Workington’s representative in the individual riders championship.
Owner Keith Denham, fired-up by the Best Pairs win, believes it will be possible for the Comets to pull-off a stunning treble.
“We will be considered favourites with the Pairs on our own track and with the three heat leaders we have, as well as young Joe Haines, I think that represents a formidable line-up.
“Daniel leads the way in the Premier League averages so he will be fancied for the individual championship, so all in all we have a lot to look forward to.
“That would be an unbelievable collection of trophies if the guys can pull it off and although it still doesn’t contain a seven-man trophy, is not bad for starters,” he said.
But team manager Ian Thomas is of the old-school, and will be “taking each match as it comes,” starting with tonight’s Premier League clash with the Redcar Bears.
“We want to be up there contesting the play-offs so we just have to get our heads down and make sure we don’t have any slip-ups,” he says.
Kevin Doolan and Kozzer Smith of King’s Lynn step in as guests tonight for the absent Daniel Nermark and Tomi Reima, while the Comets will use rider replacement for Joe Haines.
