Workington Comets reserves Rob Shuttleworth and Matt Williamson hope their experience together at Belle Vue can help fire Comets to success.

The duo, who will ride at No.6 and No.7 for Comets this season, are not strangers, having ridden together at the Colts in the National League last year.

Shuttleworth admits the financial strain of the sport meant he probably held back longer than he should have from making the step up but he is now ready to make his mark.

The Barrow-born rider had offers from other clubs but chose his local track and is now a Workington asset.

He said: “I maybe should have been in the Championship last year but I sort of held back. I’m ready to give it my all this season, I’m determined.

“I rode with Matt Williamson all last year, so I’m used to racing with him.

“I’ve got nothing to prove so I’ll keep plugging away at it and do my best.”

The rebranded SGB Championship has seen many teams take on a different look, with 2.00 average riders promoting previous No.7s to the No.6 spot.

Williamson, who was at No.7 last year, is entering his second full season as a Comet and hopes this will be the year he kicks on into the main body of the team.

Initially drafted in as a mid-season replacement for the injured Nathan Greaves in 2015, Williamson cemented his place as one of the division’s most promising reserves with a solid campaign last year.

The 24-year-old prides himself on consistency home and away and he hopes that will continue in Comets colours.

Williamson said: “I’d like to carry on making the steady progress that I always have done.

“I’m really happy to be back, I class this as my home track and club.

“It’s the only one I wanted to come back to and I’ve always said that, as long as they want me, I’ll be here.

“I do want to press on and my aim is by the end of the season to be in the main body of the team.

“I’m still inexperienced but I’m not the least experienced anymore.”

“It’s going to be a bit of a big ask because I’ll be riding against the big boys this season but hopefully I can push past that," he added.

“I was consistent last season and, whatever I scored at home, I kind of matched away.

“I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself but I like to feel like I’ve moved on.”

The pair also represented Workington at the fourth annual Northern Media Launch Day yesterday at Newcastle’s Brough Park, with captain Craig Cook and co-promoter Steve Whitehead also there to speak to the press.

Riders from Berwick, Redcar and Newcastle also took part in the event.