By John Walsh

Last updated at 12:23, Tuesday, 02 December 2008

Workington Comets have replaced number one Daniel Nermark with Premier League top gun Kevin Doolan.

Kevin Doolan

While the flying Swede finished as the number one rider in 2008, that slot had been occupied in the closing weeks of the season by Kevin Doolan.

Doolan, 28 on Sunday, has joined the Comets as their number one for the 2009 season after being made available by King’s Lynn Stars. He has a green sheet average of 10.32.

Comets team manager Ian Thomas swooped quickly to recruit Doolan, pictured, after being tipped off that he was going to be released by the Norfolk track.

“In the end eight or nine tracks were interested in taking him but I got first run on them and was able to get in quickly to complete the signing,” said Thomas.

Doolan admits he didn’t take much persuading to agree a deal with Thomas and was in Workington yesterday to meet owner Keith Denham and try on the new Comets body-colour for size.

“To be honest once Ian spoke to me I made up my mind pretty quickly. It was flattering that so many tracks were interested but Workington is such a good track and a good club that I didn’t take much persuading.”

“I’ve enjoyed my time at King’s Lynn but it’s the old numbers game again and that’s something you have to get used to in speedway. The same thing has happened to me in Sweden after my team won promotion and I’ve had to make a change over there as well,” he said.

Doolan, who has just enjoyed his best season in British speedway, is concentrating on Workington in 2009 and his Swedish commitments on a Tuesday. He will not be riding in Poland this time.

“I’ve always enjoyed riding at Derwent Park although the fans probably weren’t too impressed when I didn’t score many as a guest towards the end of the season. I think I had one of those nights. “I’m going to be based in Sheffield and will probably be going home to Australia for Christmas but I intend to pop up before then to meet some fans and potential new sponsors. “I had a real good year in 2008 and although I’m not one of the young kids on the block I think I still have some improvement in me. I’m always looking to get better,” he said.

Doolan started racing in Australia along with ex-Comet Rusty Harrison and the pair were team-mates at King’s Lynn last year. He first rode for Belle Vue in 1999 when he came over to Britain as a raw 18-year-old and was also with the Manchester club in 2000. He tried the Premier League in 2002 with Berwick Bandits and his debut was actually a Premier Trophy meeting against the Comets. Doolan switched to Glasgow for 2003 and King’s Lynn in 2004, then for the next two years he rode for the Stars while doubling up with Ipswich and then Eastbourne. In 2007 he went back to Belle Vue in the Elite League before returning to King’s Lynn in the season just ended, producing his best performances so far.

Workington owner Keith Denham said: “We lost our number one Daniel Nermark so it was important to replace like with like, and I think we have done that with Kevin. He’s had a superb season and he thinks he can do even better next year for Workington.”

“We have been slow out of the blocks with our recruitment but things are moving now and I don’t think it will be too long before we can announce another signing.”

The Comets have signed Doolan, Charles Wright, John Branney and Richard Lawson with two heat leaders and a second string still to find.

First published at 11:25, Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk