Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 29 May 2008

WORKINGTON Comets have signed a new foreign rider to replace injured second string Barry Burchatt.

Subject to BSPA approval, Workington will declare 34-year-old Finnish rider Tomi Reima in their line-up.

Workington skipper Kauko Nieminen has played a key role in negotiations with his fellow countryman.

They were completed by owner Keith Denham and team manager Ian Thomas over the weekend.

Reima, a Finnish international, is expected to make his Comets debut tomorrow at home to Sheffield Tigers.

Ironically, back in 2001, when Reima and Nieminen rode for a Finnish Select in a four-team tournament at Derwent Park it was the latest recruit who was being tipped then as Workington’s next signing. But Thomas had been tracking Nieminen and went over to Finland soon afterwards to watch him in action before signing him for the Comets.

Thomas said: “Tomi scored eight points when he rode at Derwent Park and he’s ridden in World Cup matches for Finland so he’s had plenty of experience.

“We are not signing a super-star, and I’m sure people don’t expect that knowing the points we have to play with, but I think Tomi is capable of doing us a solid job.”

Denham said: “There are some big matches ahead, and they don’t get much tougher than Sheffield because the Tigers really are smarting from that home defeat we inflicted.

“Then we have King’s Lynn away and that is always a tough match but we are going to places now a lot more confident than we have been for a while.”

Last weekend Comets completed their safe passage to the quarter-finals of the Premier League Knockout Cup and moved joint top of the Premier League. See page 44 for meeting reports and photographs.