SOME familiar names will be back at Derwent Park on Saturday night to contest the Cumberland Classic.

Kauko Nieminen and James Wright, two popular former team members at Workington, ply their trade in the Elite League with Lakeside and Belle Vue respectively.

They top the bill with three riders who have done their bit for the Comets over the last two years, acting as guests and helping them to victory in successive Young Shield competitions.

Tomas Topinka and Jason Lyons were the heroes in 2008 while Mark Lemon had a major role in last year’s retention of the trophy.

Chris Kerr, who was a surprise winner last year, has confirmed that he will be back to defend his title.

The American has been sidelined since May with a broken leg, but had a practice this week and has reported himself fit enough to return to Derwent Park for the latest running of the individual event.

David Howe, a former Elite League star now with Scunthorpe, has also accepted an invitation to contest the Classic while current Swindon Robins rider Morten Risager will complete the eight visitors in the line-up.

Richard Lawson is being allowed to rest his shoulder ahead of the Premier League Knockout clash with Edinburgh in a fortnight, while Peter Kildemand will be making his come-back at Rye House with Denmark Under-21’s rather than at Derwent Park in the Cumberland Classic.

New Comets’ reserve Casper Wortman is unable to ride because of a previous booking in his native Denmark so Workington’s current representatives will be skipper Chris Schramm, Rusty Harrison, Craig Cook and Andre Compton.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “I think this is one of the strongest and most competitive fields we have assembled for the Cumberland Classic. I reckon we are in for a super night of speedway.

“It’s great that both Kauko and James are coming back because they were firm favourites with the supporters at Workington.

“I think it’s also nice that we’ve got the three guys who did so well for us as guests when we won the back-to-back Young Shields.

“I’d been hoping that Chris Kerr would be able to come back and defend the title he won last year but it’s been touch and go because of his injury. He hasn’t ridden competitively since May.

“He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when he rang to confirm this week. The practice had been fine as far as his leg went, but he blew an engine after only a couple of laps.

“As for our own Comets there are only four available. Richard would have ridden but we had a chat about it and I think we are agreed that it will be in his best interests to have a rest so that’s he’s A-1 for the matches with Edinburgh in the Knockout Cup.

“I thought he did really well on Bank Holiday Monday to last as long as he did but he was clearly in some difficulty from his shoulder.”

The action starts at 7pm and the line-up is – Kauko Nieminen, James Wright, David Howe, Mark Lemon, Tomas Topinka, Jason Lyons, Chris Kerr, Morten Risager, Rusty Harrison, Craig Cook, Chris Schramm and Andre Compton.

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