Scorpions pipped at the post

SHEFFIELD TIGERS 45 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 44 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

HEB Scunthorpe Scorpions suffered the agony of a 44-45 defeat at Sheffield yesterday (Sunday), despite leading throughout the first 14 races.

The defeat came despite some superb riding from several Scorpions, in a fine advert for Championship speedway, that was not decided until the final bend of the final race.

Danny Ayres, fresh from finishing third in the British Semi-Final at Redcar on Friday night, and Josh Auty took a 4-2 from Heat 1 to put Scorpions in front, with Ayres heading home former British Champion Danny King to take the race victory.

An eventful Heat 2 – which saw Ryan Kinsley take a heavy fall after Zaine Kennedy left him with no room on the back straight, resulting in Kennedy’s exclusion, before a subsequent fall for Alfie Bowtell – eventually ended as a 3-2 to Sheffield, while guest Ryan Douglas and Stefan Nielsen took a 5-1 for Scorpions in Heat 3.

Jake Allen announced his return from injury by winning Heat 4, and then the Scunthorpe lead fluctuated between three and five points for the mid-part of the meeting.

Ayres was enjoying a fabulous meeting. He flew around Drew Kemp in Heat 5, with Josh Auty also following, as Scorpions avoided conceding a 5-1. In Heat 8, starting off the difficult outside gate, Ayres fought past Kennedy to take third and then closed in on Kasper Andersen. The race was won in fine style for Scorpions by Bowtell.

Ayres won Heat 11, while Todd Kurtz squeezed past Auty into second place, as Scorpions took a 4-2 and moved seven points ahead.

King came into Heat 12 as a tactical substitute, but Douglas produced a superb ride to fend off King around the opening bends and then zoom past Ty Proctor to win the race.

Scunthorpe seemed to be closing in on victory, but the first major setback came in Heat 13, where King and Kurtz led all the way to a 5-1, as Scorpions’ lead was cut to 40-37.

Nielsen and Bowtell trapped in Heat 14, but Bowtell lost control entering the third bend and crashed. In the re-run, Nielsen again led, but was passed by Broc Nicol on the third lap, and Scorpions’ advantage was down to a point.

Sheffield had the choice of gates in Heat 15, and Scorpions were up against it. King won the race, ahead of Douglas, while Ayres – starting from the outside gate – gave it everything in the pursuit of Kurtz, which eventually ended in a fall for Ayres in a last-ditch effort on the final turn.

Douglas proved a fabulous guest for the injured Jason Garrity and top scored for Scorpions with 13 points, while the battling Ayres collected 9 points and Allen posted 8 points.

For Tigers, King was top dog with 16 points from 6 rides.

Speaking post-meeting, Danny Ayres said: “If you’d have told me at the start of the season, when I didn’t even have a place in the Championship, that I’d be in this league and riding in Heat 15, then I’d have grabbed it with both hands.

“But, right now, I’m disappointed that I didn’t get anything from the last race.

“I had a chat with Sean Wilson (former Sheffield No 1) after the final race, and he gave me some advice as to where I should be lining up off the start when I’m off the outside gate around here. It’s all a learning curve – I’ve just got to keep working hard and stay focused.

“I’m disappointed, because I’m a racer and I want to be the best and I’m gutted that we didn’t win.

“But when I get back in the van and the adrenalin stops pumping, I will be able to look back at the meeting and be positive about what I did, and that I rode well and scored nine points.

“I’m starting to build up my confidence in this league and believe that I belong in it. I’m revved up for it.”

SHEFFIELD 45: Danny King 16, Todd Kurtz 8+2, Broc Nicol 7+1, Ty Proctor 6+2, Kasper Andersen 3, Drew Kemp 3, Zaine Kennedy 2.
SCUNTHORPE 44: Ryan Douglas 13, Danny Ayres 9, Jake Allen 8, Stefan Nielsen 5+2, Josh Auty 4+1, Alfie Bowtell 3, Ryan Kinsley 2.

* We also spoke to Danny Ayres about his heroics in the British Semi-Final at Redcar on Friday, and we will post his reaction on Monday evening / Tuesday morning.