Workington GT Tyres Comets make changes for double header

Despite a challenging start to the 2026 campaign, the GT Tyres Comets have recorded victories in two of their opening four meetings.

After a narrow BSN Series (Northern) defeat at Redcar Bears in their opening meeting, they chalked up a first win over Scunthorpe Scorpions on home shale in the same competition a fortnight ago.

Attention switched to the MAXiCab Knockout Cup last weekend, with a tough night at the office and a loss away to Berwick on Saturday. A dramatic heat eight collision left both home rider Reid Battye and Niklas Holm Jakobsen injured and out of the meeting.

Both men were missing as the sides met again, at the GT Tyres Arena on Sunday, when the depleted Comets bounced back and triumphed 48-42 on an afternoon which saw some stunning racing. However, the Bandits prevailed on aggregate and went through to the KO Cup semi-finals for the first time in 21 years.

Workington travel to Scunthorpe tonight (Friday, 7-30pm) and then entertain Redcar (6pm) in West Cumbria on Saturday.

But the GT Tyres Comets promotion has been busy filling gaps in the team line-ups for both meetings.

Jakobsen remains sidelined with a chipped arm bone, reserve Vinnie Foord is also missing with a fractured knee cap he sustained at Redcar on day one, while Craig Cook has been ruled out of both weekend fixtures late on. Cook has been advised not to ride due to a suspected rotator cuff injury.

Redcar’s Jake Mulford guests for Workington at number two for the trip to Scunthorpe before lining up against the Comets the following day.

Glasgow Tigers’ Sam Hagon fills in for Foord at the Eddie Wright Raceway this evening, with exhausting last-minute attempts being made by the promotion to find a replacement for Cook to no avail, so they will run R/R on Friday.

For tomorrow’s meeting against Redcar, Glasgow’s Kyle Howarth will come in to replace Cook and the GT Tyres Comets will run rider replacement for Jakobsen and use Ryan Ingram as a guest for Foord.

Ingram is due to face Workington tonight with his club, Scunthorpe, who will be led out by number one and skipper Josh Pickering.

Popular former Comet Nicolai Klindt is at number one for the Bears this weekend, with another former Workington rider, Ace Pijper, at six for the visitors.

There is another new face for Comets fans to cheer on: young British rider Max Perry has been signed on at reserve after a mutual decision was reached by the club and youngster Jamie Etherington to part ways earlier in the week.

One Comet's rider who will go into both of this weekend’s meetings full of confidence is number one and recent signing Jonas Jeppesen.

On Sunday, Jeppesen delivered a stunning 18-point maximum, winning all six of his rides, having top-scored for his new team with nine points at his former Shielfield Park stomping ground the previous evening.

*Comets start their Cab Direct Championship league campaign next weekend as they visit Edinburgh Monarchs on Friday, 8th May, before welcoming Plymouth Gladiators to the GT Tyres Arena on Saturday (9th, 3pm start).

Baz Collins will continue to deputise on Friday at Scunthorpe while James Denham will return to the team manager role on Saturday, ahead of both clashes, James said: “On Friday, we are keen to hold onto our lead, but we know they go well around their place, but securing the aggregate bonus point could prove just as important over the two legs, so that’s firmly in our thinking.”

“It’s been a difficult week to try and secure guests for both fixtures, due to clashes and the 8-day rule, so we thank Kyle Howarth, Sam Hagon, Jake Mulford and Ryan Ingram for stepping in. We have also been hampered by the late news of a suspected rotator cuff injury to Craig Cook, who was initially expected to be back in the lineup this weekend.

"We hope to be able to provide more info on that when we have it. We do have some positive news with both Vinnie Foord and Niklas Holm Jakobsen, who are progressing well and are aiming to be back within the next few weeks.

“We’ll also see Max Perry make his debut, and he’s eager to get going. We’re confident he’ll come in at reserve and deliver the sort of points we need.

“Looking ahead to Saturday at the Northside, the lads are confident they can turn around the six-point deficit against Redcar Bears.

"It will be a challenge as they go well around our place, especially their number one, Nicolai Klindt, but the boys know exactly what’s required.

“Across both fixtures, if we pull together like we did last Sunday, we’ll put ourselves in a strong position to come away with positive results, which will put us in a strong position in the northern group of the BSN Series.”