Kauko Nieminen
| Kauko Nieminen | ||
 | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  Finland | |
| Date of birth | 29 August 1979 | |
| Place of birth | Seinäjoki, Finland | |
| Nickname | Kake, Nemo, Flying Finn | |
| Website | www | |
| Current club information | ||
| British league | Belle Vue Aces/ Leicester Lions | |
| Polish league | Lokomotiv Daugavpils | |
| Swedish league | Griparna | |
| Danish league | Brovst | |
| Career history | ||
| Workington Comets Glasgow Tigers Lakeside Hammers TŻ Lublin (POL) PSŻ Poznań (POL) Leicester Lions Belle Vue Aces Griparna (SWE) |
2002-05, 2007-08 2006 2008- 2007 2008-2012 2011–2013 2013 2015 | |
| Individual honours | ||
| Finnish under-21 champion Finnish champion |
1998, 1999, 2000 2009, 2010, 2011 | |
| Team honours | ||
| Premier League Fours Champion Premier League Pairs Champion Finland 1st Division Champion Sweden 2nd Division Champion Elite League KO Cup |
2004, 2006, 2008 2008 2000 2001, 2004 2009 | |
Kauko 'Kake' Tapio Nieminen (born 29 August 1979, in Seinäjoki) is a Finnish speedway racer with the Leicester Lions and Belle Vue Aces in the UK, Valsarna in Sweden, PSŻ Poznań in Poland and the Finland national speedway team.[1]
Career summary
Nieminen started his UK 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. Also in 2006, he represented Finland in the 2006 Speedway World Cup.
Nieminen is known by both Workington and Glasgow fans as 'The Flyin Finn' because of his racing style, which produces some high speed passing. In 2007 season, Nieminen returned to the Workington Comets, this time as captain,[2] 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.[3]
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.[4] Nieminen was signed as a full team member at Lakeside for the 2009 season. He joined Leicester Lions in July 2011, becoming the team captain and finishing third in the 2011 Premier League Riders' Championship. He won the Finnish championship for the third consecutive year in September 2011. 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 Lions for the 2013 Premier League season, in what would be his third season with that team.
References
- ↑ Bamford, Robert (January 2004). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2004. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2915-9.
- ↑ "Flying Finn Kauko is Comets Skipper". News and Star. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ↑ "It's a deal for Kauko". News and Star. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
- ↑ "Hammers sign Finnish number eight". BBC. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
External links
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