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For the physicist, see Kauko Armas Nieminen.

Kauko Tapio Nieminen (born 29 August 1979, in Seinäjoki) is a Finnish former speedway rider who raced for several teams in the UK, Sweden, and Poland, and as part of the Finland national speedway team.[1][2]

Career summary

Nieminen started his United Kingdom career with the Workington Comets in 2002 and was with them every season until 2008 except for 2006, when he rode for the Glasgow Tigers.[3][4]

In 2004, he was part of the Workington four that won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 21 August 2004, at the Derwent Park.[5]

In 2006, he represented Finland in the 2006 Speedway World Cup.

Nieminen was known by both Workington and Glasgow fans as 'The Flyin Finn' because of his racing style, which produces some high speed passing. In the 2007 season, Nieminen returned to the Workington Comets, this time as captain,[6] and also rode for Solkatterna in Sweden and TŻ Lublin in Poland. At the end of the season it was announced he would return the Comets in 2008[7] and he won the Premier League Pairs Championship partnering Daniel Nermark for Workington, during the 2008 Premier League speedway season,[8] in addition to winning the Premier League Four-Team Championship, held on 26 July 2008, at Derwent Park.[9]

His good form in 2008 was noticed by the Elite League team Lakeside Hammers, and he was signed to the squad to cover for injuries.[10] Nieminen was signed as a full team member at Lakeside for the 2009 season.[3] He joined Leicester Lions in July 2011, becoming the team captain and finishing third in the 2011 Premier League Riders' Championship.

He became national champion of Finland for the third consecutive year in September 2011, after winning the Finnish Individual Speedway Championship.[11] In November 2012 Lakeside Hammers announced that Kauko would be awarded a Testimonial meeting in 2013, with the venue to be decided. On 25 November 2012 Kauko was named to continue as captain of Leicester again for the 2013 Premier League season, in what would be his third season with that team. He also rode for Belle Vue during the season.

His final appearance in the UK was for Glasgow Tigers in 2015.[3]

References

  1. ^ Bamford, Robert (January 2004). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2004. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2915-9.
  2. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Kauko Nieminen". WWOS backup. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. ^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Comets set to host biggest ever meeting". Whitehaven News. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Flying Finn Kauko is Comets Skipper". News and Star. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02. [dead link]
  7. ^ "It's a deal for Kauko". News and Star. 3 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  8. ^ "PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS RESULT". Birmingham Speedway. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  9. ^ "2008 season fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Hammers sign Finnish number eight". BBC. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
  11. ^ "Individual Finnish Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
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