Scorpions aim for improvement at Oxford

SCORPIONS AIM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN HISTORIC NIGHT AT OXFORD

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are aiming for a much better performance when they are involved in the re-opening meeting at Oxford’s famous Sandy Lane circuit tomorrow night (Wednesday, 7.30pm).

Scorpions started the season with a heavy 28-62 defeat at Leicester 10 days ago, with Ryan Douglas scoring half their points. The only consolation is that both Birmingham (who scored 26 points) and Newcastle (24 points) have scored even less in the other two meetings at Beaumont Park this season.

Oxford closed following the 2007 season. In their last-ever team home meeting at Cowley, Cheetahs faced Scunthorpe in the first leg of the Conference League play-off final on October 19, 2007. Scorpions won 47-42, before winning 61-31 at the Eddie Wright Raceway two days later to complete a 108-73 aggregate victory, despite being without Josh Auty, Andrew Tully and Richie Dennis, who were all out injured.

The meeting at Sandy Lane was a Tai Woffinden masterclass. The 17-year-old future treble World Champion scored a 17+1 paid maximum and also team rode with Joe Haines, in a perfect first performance at the track.

Now 15 years later, and some 5290 days later, Scorpions also feature in the re-opening meeting at Cowley. Scunthorpe fans are advised this meeting is a total sell-out and advised not to travel unless they have tickets. They are also recommended to read the information on the Oxford website regarding parking arrangements.

Cheetahs are led seven-time British Champion Scott Nicholls and Australian Troy Batchelor, both riders with Grand Prix experience.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It’s amazing that Oxford are back. We got Scunthorpe back after a 20-year-absense in 2005, and it’s brilliant that the Cheetahs are back after 15 years away. Oxford are such a big name in British Speedway, it’s a great stadium, while they used to have riders like Hans Nielsen and Simon Wigg.

“I suggested to Oxford promoter Jamie Courtney that as Scunthorpe were the last team there in 2007 in their final year that we should also be the first team back in 2022. It’s nice to be part of history and I can’t wait to see the packed-out stadium.

“We will do our best to spoil Oxford’s party. We were disappointed with our performance at Leicester. After that, it was very clear that most of the team needed to blow off the cobwebs to get up to speed, so we have had them practicing around the Eddie Wright Raceway and piling up the laps.

“We know we need a better performance at Oxford, while nothing less than a win will do when Leicester come to the Eddie Wright Raceway for our opening home meeting of the season on Good Friday at 5pm.”

Scorpions’ team for tomorrow night: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Simon Lambert (captain), 3. Jordan Palin, 4. Tero Aarnio, 5. Jake Allen, 6. Ryan Kinsley, 7. Zaine Kennedy.

PHOTO: Tero Aarnio in action at the Josh Auty testimonial (pic: Ian Rispin)