Joe Haines quits Workington speedway to join Rye House

By John Walsh

Last updated 12:23, Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Workington Comets whiz-kid Joe Haines is moving on – after agreeing a deal with Premier League rivals Rye House.

Joe Haines

Haines, one of the bright young prospects in British speedway is a Wolverhampton asset, and accepted a deal to join the Rockets for 2009.

On Friday, Haines had picked-up two trophies at the Comets presentation night – for the rider who had improved his average most and for the one who had won most rider of the night awards.

He was a member of the Comets team that won the Premier League Fours and was in the side that clinched the Young Shield, moving up from reserve to second string during the season.

Haines only turned 17 in September and last month reached the final of the British Under-18’s Championship, finishing fourth at Scunthorpe.

Workington Comets owner Keith Denham said: “We’d heard that he was going to move on and that’s now happened”

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “He’s a talented lad but obviously fancies a change of track. We didn’t even get the chance to sit down and talk a deal through with him.”

Haines says that he wants to widen his experience and after a year at Derwent Park believes the handling of a smaller track like Rye House will be good for his career.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed my season at Workington because the fans have been great. The Comets are the best-supported team in the League and the fans have really given the team, and myself, terrific backing.

“I will be going with some great memories of my time at Workington. The Fours win and the Young Shield clincher at Berwick were excellent but somehow I think the win at Sheffield was my favourite moment.

“I really enjoyed that meeting and the fact that we’d won there. I came away with a great buzz.”

Bolton-based Haines started his speedway career in 2007 with the Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Conference League winning the Championship, the Knockout Cup and the Conference Trophy in his first full season.

Wolverhampton signed Haines just after his sixteenth birthday and immediately loaned him to the Comets for the 2008 season. He also rode for Boston in the Conference.