Scorpions in top-of-the-table clash
THIRD-PLACED FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions take on second-placed Ipswich Witches in a top of the table Premier League clash at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening (7.30pm).
It’s the first meeting at Scunthorpe for the Scorpions since the Knockout Cup clash against Peterborough on Spring Bank Holiday Monday (May 26).
Despite their lack of recent home action, the Scorpions have maintained their high league position, thanks to their 49-41 away win at local rivals Sheffield last Thursday, an amazing third win of the season at Owlerton.
That win was all the more satisfying thanks to the double return to form for Josh Auty (10 from 4 rides) and reserve Thomas Jorgensen (16, paid 18, from 7 rides), with both mounted on bikes with new engines. Jorgensen went into Heat 15 with a chance of becoming only the second-ever Scorpion to score a seven-ride maximum.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “Both Thomas (Jorgensen) and Josh (Auty) had a great meeting at Sheffield last week. Their mechanical problems are now behind them.
“Thomas was really buzzing after the meeting at Sheffield, and Josh was a much happier man too. I never doubted their ability, it was just a case of getting the machinery sorted, and both are fired up to continue from where they left off for the Ipswich home meeting.”
Both teams are minus one rider on Friday night. Scunthorpe No 1 Nicolai Klindt is riding in the semi-finals of the Grand Prix qualifiers at Czestochowa in Poland on Saturday night.
Danish star Klindt is just ten rides (two meetings) away from joining Tai Woffinden and co in the Grand Prix series. He needs to finish in the top eight on Saturday, to qualify for the ultra-tough Grand Prix Challenge at Lonigo, Italy in September, where just three places for the 2015 GP series are on offer.
Fellow Dane Ulrich Ostergaard is the guest replacement for Klindt. Ostergaard scored paid 15 for Peterborough at Scunthorpe in Panthers’ cup visit
Meanwhile, Ipswich are without reserve Adam Ellis, in action for Elite League Lakeside, and bring in Max Clegg as a guest. Youngster Clegg has plenty of experience at the Eddie Wright Raceway, having rode for the Scunthorpe Saints in the 2012 National League.
Godfrey adds: “We’re determined to take all three points off Ipswich – with both teams high up in the league table, it’s an important match.
“We’re currently four points behind the Witches in the league table with a match in hand; if we take all three points off them on Friday, it becomes just a point behind with a match in hand.
“Of course, it makes it more of a challenge being without Nicolai (Klindt), given his form he’s been showing for us. But Ulrich Ostergaard had a fine meeting here with Peterborough, on the strength of that we’ve booked him as the guest.
“Ipswich are certainly no pushovers, their current league position is testament to that. But if we pull together, we can take the points on Friday.”
Admission prices for Friday:
Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for Friday (English unless stated):
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Ulrich Ostergaard (Denmark – guest), 2. David Howe, 3. Ashley Birks, 4, Josh Auty, 5. Ryan Douglas (Australia), 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark).
Ipswich Witches: 1. Richie Worrall, 2. Cameron Heeps (Australia), 3. Morten Risager (Denmark), 4. Gino Manzares (United States), 5.Rohan Tungate (Australia), 6. Max Clegg (guest), 7. Ritchie Hawkins.
Ipswich Witches at EWR
Ave Ave Best
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Ritchie Hawkins PL 18 80 100 17 5.00 5.85 10 + 2 from 7 rides (2010)
Cameron Heeps PL 2 9 12 1 5.33 5.78 11 + 1 from 5 rides (2013)
Gino Manzares DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Morten Risager PL 4 15 11 1 2.93 3.20 4 + 1 from 4 rides (2013)
Rohan Tungate PL 2 8 10 1 5.00 5.50 6 from 4 rides (2013)
Richie Worrall PL 7 33 55 5 6.67 7.27 13 from 5 rides (2012)
Other Notes
Ritchie Hawkins
2004 British Under-21 Champion.
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2005.
Member of Mildenhall’s Conference League Championship, KO Cup and Trophy Winning Teams in 2004.
Cameron Heeps
2012 Western Australia State Champion.
5 times Western Australian Under-16 Champion (2006 to 2010).
Member of Mildenhall’s National League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Mildenhall’s 2012 National League Championship, KO Cup, Trophy and Pairs Winning Teams.
Gino Manzares
Has represented the USA in the Speedway World Cup.
2012 US Under-21 National Champion.
Riding in his debut British League season.
Morten Risager
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Championship Winning Teams in 2005 and 2007.
Member of Coventry’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2006.
Member of Ipswich’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2011.
Held his Testimonial Meeting at Ipswich earlier this season.
Rohan Tungate
Has won multiple Long track and Dirt track titles in Australia and is riding in his 2nd PL season with Ipswich.
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2013, though missed the Play-Off Final due to injury.
Richie Worrall
Former Scunthorpe Saint.
Member of Scunthorpe’s National League Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011 and 2013.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League Cup Winning Team in 2013.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Belle Vue for the 2014 Elite League season.
Ipswich’s Results at EWR:
03 June 2011 KOC1 L Scunthorpe 55 Ipswich 35
01 July 2011 KOC1R L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 37
05 August 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 39
26 June 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 61 Ipswich 31
19 April 2013 PL D Scunthorpe 45 Ipswich 45
