Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 10 July 2008

WORKINGTON Comets meeting at Edinburgh next month will be screened live on Sky.

In a rare switch Sky have chosen to screen a match from the second tier of British speedway, although staying with their Monday night slot.

It means Edinburgh have had to move from their Friday night race slot to accommodate the cameras.

Speedway regularly pulls more viewers than Super League and the Edinburgh/Workington match will be beamed to 114 countries.

Comets team manager Ian Thomas said: “It would have been nice to feature at Derwent Park but I’m pleased we have been chosen as Edinburgh’s opponents for the televised match.

“I think this is great for the speedway club, the town of Workington and indeed for West Cumbria. Any exposure Workington gets around the world has to be good, and I hope we can give it a positive emphasis on the night.”

Both teams are in contention for a League play-off place and could well be challenging for the top of the table in a month’s time.

Workington and Edinburgh are also due to race each other in the semi-final of the Knockout Cup and that was the match that many people suspected would be the one Sky chose for television coverage.

At the moment, however, no dates have been agreed for either the Edinburgh leg or the home leg for Workington at Derwent Park.

The Comets are back in action on tonight with another vital top-four clash, this time at Somerset. And tomorrow Comets are at home against Isle of Wight.

Comets may be favourites to add the Premier League Fours to the Best Pairs title but they are going to have to do it the hard way.

Derwent Park stages the prestigious competition on July 26 and they have been drawn in the toughest group.

They will be up against Somerset, Sheffield and Edinburgh - all potential winners of the trophy.

King’s Lynn, Newcastle, Berwick and Reading are the other group make it up one of the hottest fields assembled for the popular Fours tournament.

Workington will be represented by their Best Pairs champions Kauko Nieminen and Daniel Nermark plus Carl Stonehewer and Joe Haines.

Thomas said: “I think it’s a very strong field with such an array of good riders. I was just looking at the league averages and 14 of the top 20 are scheduled to take part.

“There’s no doubt that we have the toughest group but I don’t think any team has the quality of heat leaders that we have on show.”