There’s an update in the Speedway Star.
Looks like it’s just 1 position to fill, we are hardly left with the dregs as some people like to believe..
COMETS OPTIONS
WORKINGTON boss James Denham admits there have been some very tough decisions in putting together his team for 2026.
With Jonas Jeppesen, Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke and Vinnie Foord all confirmed as starters for the GT Tyres Comets, it leaves three places to fill.
Denham says they haven't been short of options to complete the septet, and all are being explored having taken a different approach to team- building than in previous
seasons.
"We've had to go down a different route, because what we've seen the last two seasons is that we just need stronger riders in certain positions," said Denham.
"Troy was pretty much the only man we could rely on, there was no-one else that we could trust. He delivered when he could but he didn't really have any support.
"We needed to give him that support. We needed a proper number one this year, and Jonas is the right man.
"Troy maybe isn't as strong as some of the other number ones, but he can mix it with those guys on his day.
"That's the route we've gone down, and we have three other positions to fill now. We have some of that sorted but are waiting for the last piece of the jigsaw.
"I think there are plenty of riders, both on the continent and in the UK, that would fit the bill and we're just trying to figure out which is going to be the best one. We're waiting for a few people to get back to us and figure out which is the best option to go with.
"We need to be unbeatable at home this year and pick up as many aggregate points in the Championship, like we did that first year when we made the play-offs."
As is always the case when it comes to teams putting together their line-ups, there are inevitably riders who miss out on places and this may end up happening to Comets' 2025 rider of the year Jacob Hook.
Denham sympathises with his plight but with team-building simply coming down to numbers, he says these are the tough decisions that need to be made.
He added: "We've had plenty of riders who have been interested in coming to
Workington this year and we've had to make some tough calls with Jye (Etheridge) and Jacob, but that's how the points limit plays into our hands.
"I'm disappointed for Jacob.
Not only has it not worked out for us, but it hasn't worked out for any other team so far, so he might miss out this year, which is the downfall of his success last year."