Ash & Josh unbeaten as Scorpions reign in the rain
SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 58 NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 38 (PREMIER LEAGUE)
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions moved back up to third in the Premier League table, after a comfortable 58-38 over the Newcastle Diamonds at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).
The meeting was staged in wet conditions, after rain for much of the late afternoon. There was also light rain throughout the first half of the action. The track held up remarkably well; there wasn’t a single faller on the night and there were several outstanding races.
The Scorpions, attacking conditions, raced into a 23-7 lead, after four successive 5-1 heat wins between Heats 2 & 5. The Diamonds tracked two successful tactical rides, but the closest the visitors got was 42-30 after 11 races.
The win for the Scorpions was secured with a 5-1 from Thomas Jorgensen and Ashley Birks in Heat 12, while a third-to-first burst by Ryan Douglas in Heat 13 ensured the Scorpions took all three points from the encounter.
Ashley Birks and Josh Auty, partnered together at numbers 3 & 4, both took paid maximums; the first of the season for both riders.
Auty raced around Danny King in Heat 5, to join Birks for a 5-1. Birks passed both Ludvig Lindgren and Simon Lambert in Heat 9, to move from fourth to second behind Auty. Birks completed the night by keeping a charging King at bay in Heat 15.
Thomas Jorgensen dropped just one point to an opposing rider (to tactical ride Lindgren in Heat 8), on his way to a paid 14 haul, while King was the only Diamond to head the lively Douglas.
There was another highly encouraging display from reserve Matt Williamson, who defeated at least one Newcastle rider in each race, on his way to a paid seven haul, his best in a Scorpions’ race-jacket. It was almost paid nine – Williamson was pipped at the post by Lewis Rose in an exciting finish to Heat 14.
However, the meeting was something of a nightmare for Scorpions’ No 1 Nicolai Klindt. The Dane was a late arrival, after a torrid journey to the Eddie Wright Raceway. He missed his first outing, turned up just in time for Heat 6, but couldn’t find any kind of rhythm and finished pointless.
Josh Auty said: “It was a good team performance and we took the three points. I think we can be chuffed with it.
“The conditions weren’t great. But there was no point calling it off, because it wasn’t getting any worse out there. We just got on with it and got the job done, and everyone’s then happy.
“I’m definitely getting back to what I expect from myself. But there’s still a way to go. My sharpness still has some way to go.
“I’m getting there, but it takes time. The Elite League guest bookings I’m now starting to pick up are definitely helping; I need to be racing competitively all the time. The more meetings the better.”
Skipper Ashley Birks said: “We’re performing well as a team. We’re getting plenty of 5-1s, and that shows we’re a solid outfit all the way throughout the team.
“It seems to be clicking for the team, while it definitely clicked for me tonight. I can’t really put it down to anything, because in other meetings, I thought was riding well, but it hadn’t quite been happening for me. In this meeting, it did.
“There was some tough races out there tonight, but that’s always the case. Every team in this league is strong, but we’re getting those wins in, while some other teams are struggling. Rob (Godfrey, Scunthorpe promoter) has put together a team he thinks can do it this year, and hopefully we can.”
“I don’t mind who I ride with, but it has been going well riding alongside Josh. We normally have a plan before the race, Josh likes to be out in the dirt, while I don’t mind where I race.”
Scunthorpe Scorpions 58: Ashley Birks 13+2, Thomas Jorgensen 13+1, Ryan Douglas 12, Josh Auty 10+2, Matt Williamson 5+2, David Howe 5+1, Nicolai Klindt 0.
Newcastle Diamonds 38: Daniel King 12+1, Ludvig Lindgren 11+1, David Bellego 5, Lewis Rose 5, Simon Lambert 4, Chris Mills 1, Lewis Kerr r/r.
Photo: Ashley Birks moves in front to complete his paid maximum in Heat 15.
