Comets skipper Nieminen signs for Elite team Lakeside
Last updated 12:04, Monday, 04 August 2008
In-form Kauko Nieminen is being included in an Elite League squad for the next few weeks.
The Workington Comets captain has been signed by Lakeside as their official number eight, replacing Reading’s Chris Mills.
It means he will be available to step in if any regular Hammers lower-order riders miss meetings and indications are that he will be needed on Friday when they host Swindon. That would bring him into direct opposition with former Comets favourite James Wright.
Lakeside promoter Jon Cook said: "Our reserves have increased their averages and it is an ideal time to make this change. Kauko is established as a leading rider in the Premier League."
This season he has already won the Premier League Best Pairs with Daniel Nermark and last Saturday won a race-off against King’s Lynn’s Tomas Topinka to earn the Comets their Fours title.
On Saturday he set the fastest time of the night in top-scoring for the Comets in a vital 46-44 win over Premier League leaders Somerset Rebels.
Team manager Ian Thomas said: “He’s had a great season so why not finish-off with some Elite League meetings. I don’t think he will be needed very often but it will be more good experience for him.
“He’s a smashing lad and everyone is delighted he’s done so well this season.”
Nieminen scored 12 points in Saturday’s win over the Rebels and it was his second place behind Jason Doyle, followed in by guest Gary Havelock which earned the Comets a 3-3 in the last race to win the match.
Somerset weren’t as close yesterday at Glasgow when they went down 51-39 when Doyle top-scored with 16 points.
Carl Stonehewer was guesting for the Tigers, as he put together back-to-back appearances against the Rebels and scored eight points from four rides, which included two wins.
That defeat still leaves the Rebels top of the League by a point from the Comets, and they do have four matches in hand over the Cumbrians but all are away fixtures. Workington have still won more away matches than any other team.
