Keep praying - but not for rain

It is easy to get downhearted when the speedway gods conspire against you and that is exactly what seems to be happening with Workington Comets at the moment.

Just a few weeks ago everything was looking rosy sitting pretty near the top of the table with nearly a full complement of riders with seemingly no threats of rain.

However last week was pretty miserable for supporters - in more way than one - as another two matches were lost to the weather, injuries seem to have started taking their toll and that was followed by a defeat away to Leicester where they had won the previous week.

Even though the Comets look safe in fifth place at the moment some will anxiously be looking over their shoulders with matches you would expect us to win comfortably now looking slightly more tricky with our injury problems.

The rain offs were particularly frustrating following such a long period without one and two home wins would have seen us in the upper echelons of the table.

I was surprised as anyone when I drew back the curtains on Saturday morning to reveal gorgeous sunshine and then to find the match was called off.

It was a brave call by the management but they got it spot on as although the match would probably have started the heavy rain predicted did eventually come in and the meeting certainly would not have reached a conclusion.

However, it is another two matches that need to rearranged.

So with no new signings on the horizon and matches still to be rearranged it promises to be a hectic end to the season.

People should not get downhearted though because if we manage to get through our injury crisis there is still plenty to ride for this season - possible places in the Knock Out Cup and League Cup finals and the search for the holy grail of the league title.

THERE is a loophole in the Grand Prix series that has proved to be a major talking point over the last couple of weeks.

Martin Vaculik, who has set the series alight since he came in as a wildcard to replace the injured Jarek Hampel, will not get an automatic place into next year’s championship if he finishes in the top eight this year.

The Slovakian is due to compete in the last three rounds of this year’s series because even though Hampel is due to return tomorrow, Dane Kenneth Bjerre is now ruled out for the season with a broken leg so Vaculik will now deputise for him.

However, the rules state that only the riders who started the season will be eligible to qualify so Vaculik will either have to win the Grand Prix challenge later this year or rely on a wild card pick which he should surely receive based on the form he has shown so far.

However, organisers of the Grand Prix need to seriously look at this rule.

If a rider is scoring more points in fewer races than those who have been in the championship for the whole season he surely deserves a chance to be included in the Grand Prix next year.

IT was nice to see our own Ashley Morris selected for a place in the British under-19 championship next week.

Morris has made a steady start to life in the Premier League but has shown flashes of brilliance in his short time here with notable rides away to Newcastle and at home to Ipswich standing out.

The youngster is one of the Premier League’s brightest talents and he undoubtedly has the ability to mix it with the best.

If he can do it on a consistent basis he is sure to be a star of the future.

It is just a shame Kyle Howarth has to miss out as he would a certain pick for the final had it not been for injury.

And with the form he has shown this season he would have one of the favourites for the title.