LAKESIDE have again been rocked by injury with the news that Joonas Kylmakorpi could be out for the season having sustained a shoulder injury while riding abroad at the weekend.

The Finn was forced onto the sidelines earlier in the season when he first suffered the injury and since his return, he has suffered from the after effects of the knock.

Now, having aggravated the problem, there are fears that he may need surgery and that would effectively end his racing for the 2007 season.

Team Manager and co-promoter Jon Cook admitted that the new was a body blow to the rider and the club.

"This is a great disappointment and at the moment we are facing the probability that we have seen the last of Joonas on track this season," Cook said.

"We still have much to race for and will have to review team affairs on a match-by-match basis while we wait for the return of Andreas Jonsson and cover for the absence of Joonas.

"With the next three weeks seeing us at home against three of the top four teams in the league, we will certainly have our work cut out to maintain our current league position.

"But we will do our utmost to take victory in all of these fixtures," he added.

For this Friday's fixture with Swindon, the Hammers have already booked belle Vue rider Simon Stead to race at number two, while they will continue to utilise rider replacement for Jonsson at number one.

The Robins are expected to be at full strength and will be led by former Hammer Leigh Adams.

Following the Australian's win in last Saturday's Scandinavian Grand Prix in Sweden, Adams is currently second in the Grand Prix standings.

The Elite League match starts at the Arena-Essex Raceway at 8 pm, but there will be a series of junior races before the main event and those will start at 6.45pm.