KAUKO Nieminen only managed nine meetings for Lakeside last season before he sustained a broken collar bone that ended his season prematurely.

But he had done enough to impress the Hammers management team to include the Finnish-born rider in their plans for 2009.

“It was a no-brainer,” the Elite League club’s co-promoter Jon Cook admitted. “He is clearly a very classy rider as was shown by the calibre of people he was beating, and he made an immediate impact with our fans with his determination and fight.

“The arrival of Kauko and having the pleasure to deal with him was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the season for me and I feel he will adapt to the Elite League with no trouble at all.”

The Finnish rider quickly fitted into the Elite League racing scene when joining the club in early August, immediately becoming a favourite with the Arena-Essex Raceway faithful, who took to his committed and effective style of riding. However, But he became another vivtim of the injury jinx that haunted the Hammers’ season when he crashed during the play-off semi-final against Swindon, sustaining the shoulder injury that was to end his speedway exploits for the campaign.

Now the 29-year-old from Seinajoki is fit and ready to commit himself to a full-time career in the top-flight of British speedway after enjoying the taste of racing against the sport’s elite.

“After my rides coming in as the team number eight last season, and even though it ended prematurely with my shoulder injury, I really loved racing with the Hammers,” he enthused. “I felt at home straight away and started scoring good points at the higher level, but the injury gave me time to reflect and I made up my mind that if Lakeside came calling, I would make the leap and go full-time Elite League.

“I had a great time with Workington in the Premier League, and have made many friends, but I know I can rise to the new challenge.”

Hammers co-promoters Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook soon made the call Nieminen wanted to receive with the offer of an Elite League contract for the 2009 campaign.

The rider has since been back home in his native country ahead of his first full season in top-flight British speedway with an extensive fitness programme that would be the envy of every British-based speedway rider.

“It’s Finland, and it’s winter,” he stated. “I can’t ride a speedway bike so I take advantage of what we have here.

“I’ve been up in Lapland doing some cross country skiing, and playing ice-hockey, and back home I’ve been out on the enduro bike in addition to a lot of gym work.

“I feel really fit, physically and mentally, and I just can’t wait for the season to start.”

Meanwhile, the Hammers are stepping up their search to name their number nine rider that would complete their riding squad for the season.

They had targeted a teenager widely predicted to have a bright future in the sport but the youngster has opted to try his luck elsewhere, forcing the Hammers to pursue other options.