By John Walsh

Last updated 12:14, Thursday, 05 June 2008

Workington whiz-kid Joe Haines has a suspected broken arm after a last race spill at King’s Lynn last night.

Joe Haines in action

It rounded-off a dismal night for the Comets as they crashed to a 61-32 defeat against the rampant Stars.

Daniel Nermark had slid-off through first bend bunching and Haines, getting his first-ever outing in the nominated riders’ race, couldn’t avoid his bike.

The 16-year-old thumped into the safety fence and his right arm took the brunt of the collision.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “The match was bad enough but the injury to young Joe in the last race was a real sickener. The paramedic who examined him thinks he is 99 per cent certain the arm is broken and Joe thinks the same himself.

“He had done well for us on a poor night and it was a promising first match for him at number four.

“He had been booked to ride as a guest for Birmingham on Thursday against Sheffield but obviously that’s now not possible.”

The Workington youngster, up into the body of the team for the first time since joining the club in the winter, was one of only two Comets riders to win a race. He won two, including when sent-out for a tactical ride, and unsurprisingly the Comets enjoyed only one heat advantage all night.