Scorpions pull off sensational signing

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions have signed Great Britain international Adam Ellis as their new No 1.

The surprise news came halfway through yesterday’s Scunthorpe v Glasgow clash at the Eddie Wright Raceway. It was delivered by a clearly emotional Rob Godfrey, since the rider being released is Josh Auty, a legend at Scunthorpe Speedway and the club’s all-time top scorer.

The announcement came just a day after 25-year-old Ellis, who has also been riding in Poland and for Premiership Sheffield this season, finished a brilliant third in a Grand Prix qualifier in Italy and is just five rides away from qualifying for the 2022 Grand Prix series.

Speaking after the 51-39 victory over league leaders Glasgow, Scunthorpe team manager Dave Peet explained: “A few weeks ago, we lost twice in the same weekend, in the cup to Leicester and then away to Berwick. We looked at that point how we could bolster the team and the only way we could do it, because of the riders who are out there, was by taking out one of our higher averaged riders and putting in a top class No 1.

“There were three riders who we could bring in and Adam Ellis was the standout. We then spoke to Adam and he was keen to come.

“We assessed the situation and Josh Auty was the one of our top five who was struggling the most this season. Of course, it was a tough call to make, because Josh was been part of the Scunthorpe side for so long and played such a big part in the history of the club, but we just felt we had to go for it with Adam – it was too good an opportunity to miss.”

The club has announced that they will fulfil staging Auty’s testimonial – due to be held at the Eddie Wright Raceway in 2022.

Peet added: “We genuinely feel we have a chance this season. I think the performance against Glasgow today proves that. We were missing Tero after his crash at Glasgow in the Grand Prix qualifier and yet the boys went and scored a paid maximum in his rides – that just shows how much they are digging in deep.

“We were four points behind at one stage and yet we beat them by twelve points. When we started to turn it in our favour at the end and get the momentum going, we wanted to send out a message by sending Glasgow home pointless – it’s the first time they’ve failed to take a point from a league match this season.

“We don’t want to make the numbers up this season – we want to be there and be counted.

“We just need to score some points on the road. That’s where I think our team building could have worked against us this season, once we went with a team which was around three points under the points limit.

“The key is that Adam Ellis is a rider who can score heavily anywhere, and he will make us that much stronger away from home.

“I’ve been watching Adam the last three or four years. Everyone has been waxing lyrical about Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley and quite rightly so, but Adam has worked hard and he’s coming though with them. He will be a top rider in this league.

“It was a difficult call to make to release Josh Auty, who of course we thank for his efforts and we wish well, but it was a call we felt we had to make.”

Ellis is due to make his debut for Scorpions at Edinburgh on Friday.