Workington Comets No1 Ricky Wells capped a terrific weekend for the club with a runner-up finish in the Premier League Riders’ Championship at Sheffield on Sunday.

The popular American was pipped to the prize by Peterborough and former Workington star Ulrich Ostergaard, finishing second ahead of ex-Comets No1s Craig Cook and Josh Grajczonek in the grand final.

Wells’ superb solo performance followed the team’s first away points of the season on Thursday, a positive meeting with fans about the club’s future on Friday and an exhilarating last-heat victory over Glasgow on Saturday.

Comets team manager Tony Jackson said it was evidence that Workington speedway was alive and kicking. He added: “It was a really good performance, Ricky rode well. There were three former Workington No1s and the current Comets No1 in the final which was interesting.”

The in-form Workington star made a dream start with victory in his opening race in the fastest time of the season on his old track.

Wells recorded another win, a second, a third and a last in his remaining rides to score nine points and secure a top six finish and a semi-final place.

Starting from gate three against last season’s Comets skipper Josh Grajczonek, Edward Kennett and Jonas B Andersen, Wells needed at least a second place to make it into the grand final.

The Workington No1 followed Grajczonek home ahead of Andersen, after Kennett’s bike failed him before the race even started, to ensure he would be challenging the Australian, West Cumbrian speedway star Cook and Ostergaard for the title.

Wells steered clear of a ding-dong battle between Cook and Grajczonek at the back to dip up the inside into second in the final, but the Comet couldn’t get near Ostergaard in a thrilling encounter which saw the Panther take the title.

Comets are back in action on Saturday when they welcome Edinburgh Monarchs to the Zebra Claims Stadium in their final Premier League meeting of the year.