Topinka not available for Workington speedway if they reach Knockout Cup final
Last updated 12:59, Monday, 06 October 2008
Tomas Topinka, who guided Workington Comets into the semi-final of the Young Shield last night, won’t be available for the Knockout Cup final.
The Kings Lynn star, who has been a superb guest for the injured Daniel Nermark in recent weeks, surpassed himself with a sublime 18-point maximum at Derwent Park.
But the Czech Republic ace is needed for his own club King’s Lynn on Saturday in a Top Four Play Off match at Rye House.
So Workington team manager Ian Thomas has booked the Birmingham star Jason Lyons to fill in against the Rebels in the first leg of the final.
The second leg of the KO Cup final is on Friday, October 17 at Somerset and Workington will again need a guest for Nermark. They will have to use rider replacement for injured skipper Kauko Nieminen.
Thomas said: “It’s up in the air at the moment but it’s possible that Tomas could be riding for King’s Lynn at Edinburgh when we ride against Somerset in the second leg.
“In many ways he is the perfect guest – a through professional, a very fine rider and a smashing guy with it“He was magnificent against Scunthorpe and I thought the rest of the lads did well. We were on fire really and if Charles hadn’t suffered mechanical problems we could have won more handily.
“It’s good to get through because it was tough for us having to use rider replacement for Kauko who has been on fire for most of the season.”
Workington and Berwick are the only two sides through to the semi-final of the Young Shield but Reading and Redcar meet tonight, while Sheffield and the Isle of Wight will contest their two legs this week.
“We get first pick from whoever is left and although I have one particular team in mind we’ll wait and see who gets through before I make a final decision,” said Thomas.
Workington were trailing by 12 points when they took on Scunthorpe last night but the Scorpions only provided one race winner as the Comets swept to a 58-35 win on the night – and an aggregate win by 11 clear points.
