Sky Sports speedway pundit Nigel Pearson is tipping Ty Proctor to push fan favourite Craig Cook for the No.1 spot at Workington Comets this season.

Pearson will be at Derwent Park with commentary partner and former British champion Kelvin Tatum tonight for a talk-in as part of their Sensational Speedway tour.

The experienced broadcasters present coverage for Sky Sports and the Speedway Grand Prix series, while Pearson is also a speedway promoter at Cradley.

He fancies Sheffield and Peterborough to be the front-runners for the SGB Championship title but admitted he likes the look of this revamped Workington side.

"I'm quite sure it'll be competitive," Pearson said.

"Matt Williamson is back and he's a good lad who will always give you 100 per cent.

"He's a good rider down in the reserve position and I've worked with him with my Cradley promoter's hat on.

"I hope he can become one of the best riders at Championship level because he's certainly got what it takes.

"Thomas Jorgensen is a very fast starter but one of the key signings will be Ty Proctor.

"He dropped out of the sport the last few years but now he's got his big chance.

"I'm sure he'll be keen to grab that opportunity with both hands and to challenge for the Comets No.1 spot."

Also in attendance will be Comets all-time great Carl Stonehewer and current riders Cook, who has recently been confirmed to return to SGB Premiership side Belle Vue, and Adam Roynon.

The latter is also set to tick an item off his bucket list by commentating on a speedway race with Tatum.

Pearson said: "Craig is a fine rider and I'm not surprised to see him back at Workington.

"It's good to have a couple of local lads in the team.

"Stoney is just an out and out character and I recall back in 1999 he was Mr Workington and had near celebrity status."

It is the third successive year the duo have toured the country and Workington will be the penultimate night of this series, which Pearson says has been another great success.

"The reception we've had everywhere we've been has been absolutely phenomenal," he said.

"Every venue has been full and all the signs are that Derwent Park will be the same on Friday.

"It's looking like being a cracking night.

"We've had a lot of fun with supporters and Kelvin tells some fantastic stories from his career as a rider when he went to the very top of the sport."

The sport has seen a major revamp over the winter break but Pearson is optimistic promoters' hard work will pay off.

"I think speedway is a great product and the promoters have tried to grab the bull by the horns and make it better," he added.

"I would like to see less doubling up because you want to see your riders be available for every match.

"Somehow over the next five years, I'd like to see that reduced."

Meanwhile, Proctor has been replaced by David Howe for the Ben Fund Bonanza event at Glasgow next Sunday.

Howe, who recently announced his comeback plans, replaces Proctor as the Australian will not be back in the UK in time for the meeting.