Jordan Palin to sit out 2023

SCUNTHORPE Scorpions will plan their 2023 team without highly talented teenager Jordan Palin.

The 18-year-old crashed at Belle Vue (Manchester) in June, during a Team Great Britain training session. His head impacted heavily with the track at the National Speedway Stadium and he suffered a bleed to the brain. That ruled him out of the rest of the season for the Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions, while a recent statement from Jordan Palin Racing indicated he was unlikely to return for the start of the 2023 season.

Scunthorpe boss Rob Godfrey has now confirmed that Palin is taking some time out of speedway racing.

Godfrey said: “From the moment he crashed at Belle Vue until recently, Jordan was in my team plans for Scunthorpe for next season. He’s such a talented lad, and he’s achieved so much during his time in his relatively short time as a professional speedway rider, so he’s always been at the top of the list of riders we wanted back.

“I totally understand his decision not to race next season. His family is part of the Scunthorpe Speedway family and naturally, we wish the lad well.

“It was a big blow, but since we found out Jordan wasn’t going to be back, our team planning has gone down another route and we’re putting together an exciting side for next season.”

The statement from Jordan Palin Racing from last month said:

“It has now been a few months since my last update back in July following my accident. It has been a very difficult time for both myself and my family, the uncertainty surrounding my injury and the implications that come with it.

“My latest scan has shown that the healing process is still not complete, which was not what we were expecting to hear. There is no one recovery plan that is universal, brain injuries have their own timescale and that is both frustrating and worrying. Although in myself I feel well I am still not clear to resume any activity that could further aggravate the injury. Obviously, this includes riding speedway.

“The only option available to me is to let the healing continue. This is normally a very busy time with securing places for next season and sourcing sponsorship. At this point, I have to put all of that on hold. I will continue to have regular consultations and scans but have to defer any decisions until I’m cleared. I am also trying to process the possibility that this may take a lot longer than anticipated.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support and kind messages and apologies if I have not yet had chance to reply to them all.”

Scorpions will start announcing their side for the 2023 season shortly.