speedway By John Walsh

Last updated 09:15, Saturday, 19 April 2008

DANIEL Nermark is proving to be the best rider in the Premier League’s early season Trophy competition.

But there’s a familiar face keeping him company at the top of the Premier Trophy averages – ex-Workington star Ulrich Ostergaard.

As the two meet up on the track when Workington visit Reading on Monday in a Premier League clash, they will get an early opportunity for a head-to-head.

So far both have ridden in five Premier Trophy matches but Ostergaard has had 26 rides to Nermark’s 24 and his calculated match average is slightly lower.

The new Workington number one leads the way on 11.83 with Ostergaard on 11.54 and they are the only two riders to top 11 points.

Kevin Doolan, who beat Nermark at Derwent Park for King’s Lynn on Saturday, is third on 10.93.

Workington’s skipper Kauko Nieminen is the only other Comet to figure in the top 25 in the competition and he has a calculated match average of 89.73 from his 22 rides in the five matches contested by the Cumbrian team.

Nermark had his least effective match against King’s Lynn, dropping four points, but that was the opening Premier League fixture and as such is not included in the averages so far. The Swede has one more opportunity to add to his impressive tally of points in the Trophy when the Comets ride their last match against Glasgow tonight.

Shane Parker is the only Glasgow rider appearing in the Trophy averages – joint ninth alongside King’s Lynn reserve Simon Lambert on 9.71.