Workington 2026

[Neila]

Just now, Woke23 said:

I wasnt, but now youve brought him up, lets discuss. His speedway star article was interesting, and he seems to have turned a corner. Maybe someone should give him a second chance.

Not even worth it, had plenty of chances before the offences, got released but broke conditions then put back in jail. A leopard never changes it's spots, then what about the stuff he allegedly took of fellow riders from changing rooms, and being high as a kite several times when riding. When he was allegedly injured at Derwent park, the Scunthorpe manager Eric boocock told him to get out of my sight and don't come back, as he was bouncing all round the pits 

[AndiCapp]

47 minutes ago, CTD26 said:

The silence is deafening.

Come on Derek get that flag waving

[AndiCapp]

1 hour ago, Marksman said:

The one over 8.00 says a lot for Comets team building purposes, as does the rule about returning British rider reduction of 8% for each year out.

Could this mean Zach W returns with a 40% reduction on what his average was. i.e would be about 3.17

More likely to be Zach Dingle

[Marksman]

2 hours ago, CTD26 said:

The silence is deafening.

Wouldn’t say so, the literally posted Exciting news on the horizon on the new year post.
It’s logical that they had to wait for decisions to be confirmed at the AGM I would say.

[CTD26]

20 minutes ago, Marksman said:

Wouldn’t say so, the literally posted Exciting news on the horizon on the new year post.
It’s logical that they had to wait for decisions to be confirmed at the AGM I would say.

While I get your point, why announce half the team then absolutely nothing for weeks? Probably left with the runts of the litter that nobody else wants.

[Neila]

26 minutes ago, CTD26 said:

While I get your point, why announce half the team then absolutely nothing for weeks? Probably left with the runts of the litter that nobody else wants.

But if one of the last signing is on 7.99 / 8.00 🤔 average they would have to wait for this year's rules to be rubber stamped at the delayed AGM, to make sure the signing would be allowed, before tying up the rest of the team 

[SteelShoe]

2 hours ago, Neila said:

Hope your not thinking of an ex jailbird 😟 but Zack w might work, but he will be in long track several weekends, but I think at least 1 possibly 2 rounds have been lost

I looked at this after the possibility of him being a  possible signing was first mooted on here, appeared to be no clashes with good fixture planning.

[Neila]

What average could the comets get Steve Lawson to come back in on with a 8% reduction several years out, would mean a minus average, so we could sign a team full of bewleys and Bartoz's 😁

[SteelShoe]

59 minutes ago, Marksman said:

Wouldn’t say so, the literally posted Exciting news on the horizon on the new year post.
It’s logical that they had to wait for decisions to be confirmed at the AGM I would say.

May have nothing to do with the team structure that statement though. Depends whether you class the signing of Cookie as exciting news ? Probably divide opinion that one.

[SteelShoe]

3 minutes ago, Neila said:

What average could the comets get Steve Lawson to come back in on with a 8% reduction several years out, would mean a minus average, so we could sign a team full of bewleys and Bartoz's 😁

Same man could still do a job I reckon.

[Marksman]

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."

 

 

[Woke23]

5 hours ago, Marksman said:

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."

 

 

Everything wrong with speedway in a nutshell.

Jacob performs exceptionally well last season, beats some top riders, and ends up losing out the following season with no team place. No wonder young riders are giving up the sport so easy. 

 

[CTD26]

6 hours ago, Marksman said:

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."

 

 

Plenty of riders who want to come yet the team isn’t complete 🤷🏼‍♂️

[SteelShoe]

1 hour ago, Woke23 said:

Everything wrong with speedway in a nutshell.

Jacob performs exceptionally well last season, beats some top riders, and ends up losing out the following season with no team place. No wonder young riders are giving up the sport so easy. 

 

Shame Jacob hasn't as yet secured a UK team place but Speedway is a dynamic sport injuries and all so something may yet transpire throughout the season. The continued reduction in teams doesn't help either. Really need a few more tracks but that is another story.

Would like to see Comets have an NDL team this coming season if affordable, also more taster sessions for youngsters wanting to try out the sport, but this is a big commitment time wise and financially and there is little help with costs for any such initiatives. 

[foreverblue]

2 hours ago, Woke23 said:

Everything wrong with speedway in a nutshell.

Jacob performs exceptionally well last season, beats some top riders, and ends up losing out the following season with no team place. No wonder young riders are giving up the sport so easy. 

 

But Jacob could be in the team if the team was built in a different way. He could be the 5th member of the current team leaving a bit more for the last two, if they have gone with Cook then it leaves very little for the last two. If Bowes starts poorly Jacob could end up at Poole.  Plenty of options.

Edited 17 hours ago by foreverblue

[Woke23]

Thinking about it, they should really have a rising star position in the championship. Number 7 goes to an up and coming rider from the NDL level. 

 

[geoff100]

Anybody think comets were hoping for the points limit to be lifted ?

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, Woke23 said:

Everything wrong with speedway in a nutshell.

Jacob performs exceptionally well last season, beats some top riders, and ends up losing out the following season with no team place. No wonder young riders are giving up the sport so easy. 

 

Similar thing happened with Dillon Ruml was developing into a promising your rider but ended up with and average over five and no one seemed prepared to take a chance on him, I think if someone had perservered he could have developed into a seven point plus man at championship level.

[Fromafar]

26 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Similar thing happened with Dillon Ruml was developing into a promising your rider but ended up with and average over five and no one seemed prepared to take a chance on him, I think if someone had perservered he could have developed into a seven point plus man at championship level.

Too much emphasis on averages in the sport.Killing riders progression .

[Neila]

Unfortunately with the points limit set at 40 and you need 45 points to get a result.  Most teams are going to be over the points limit come end of the season,  thus you have the situation where riders lose out just to get a team within a limit.  

For once I agree with @Woke23  a rising star position should be made for the championship as well, but maybe limit it to the lesser experienced riders, rather than the ones on the premiership