speedway By John Walsh

Last updated 11:33, Friday, 25 April 2008

WHEN the time is right you can expect Workington Comets to book “another attraction” following the successful visit of soap bad boy David Platt.

The gate for last Saturday’s Premier Trophy clash at Derwent Park was up by a few hundred – and the management team put that down to Platt’s guest appearance.

Actor Jack P. Shepherd, who plays Platt in the long-running tv show Coronation Street, signed autographs and posed for pictures before the meeting and was then introduced to both teams.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “I’m glad that our new owner Keith Denham feels the same way as I do about other attractions and is prepared to do that.

“People say we should have had a speedway personality but I look for something that will attract non-speedway people to the meeting. The secret then is to retain some of those for future matches.

“Getting them into Derwent Park and then hoping they enjoy the speedway to want to come back – that’s my view and it’s one that’s shared by KD.”

Over the years Thomas has produced a number of different attractions at his speedway meetings – from illusionists to showbiz personalities; high divers to lookalikes.

There’s no special attraction this week-end, but there is the prospect of seeing the Comets take the first step towards a long-awaited seven man trophy.

They host Stoke Potters tomorrow night (7pm) in the Knockout Cup and ride the second leg at Loomer Road on Sunday (7-30pm).

But before then Workington will have two representatives in tonight’s British Under-21’s final at Lakeside.

Sixteen-year-old Joe Haines has declared himself fit to ride at the Elite League track despite taking a knock to the shoulder on Tuesday riding on the Isle of Wight.

He will be joined at Lakeside by Charles Wright after they both came through the qualifier at King’s Lynn. Haines won it, dropping only one point in the process, and Wright was third.

Pre-meeting favourites include Eastbourne's Lewis Bridger and 17-year-old Tai Woffinden from Rye House, whilst Steve Boxall faces a fitness test on a shoulder injury.

Lakeside promoter Jon Cook said: "It will be very interesting to see how the youngsters perform around our raceway. There is a lot at stake for them."

Meanwhile Workington’s Premier League rivals Somerset have signed Matthias Kroger as a replacement for fellow German Henning Loof.

Kroger, 38, is a rider of vast experience and Loof has immediately been snapped up by Mildenhall.

Somerset manager Steve Bishop said: “We felt we needed to make this change and Matthias will bring vast knowledge and experience to the club. He’s an engine tuner of some repute which will help the boys.”

Berwick are stepping up their search for a new signing as Henning Bager will leave the club this weekend.

Bager, on loan from Lakeside, signed a short-term deal with the Bandits and his continental fixtures are about to increase.

Berwick chief Peter Waite said: “This is an opportunity for a rider to join a club with serious title aspirations.”