Jake Allen back with Scorpions

AUSTRALIAN Jake Allen has become the sixth and penultimate rider to be confirmed for next year’s Scunthorpe Scorpions.

The 27-year-old will line-up alongside Michael Palm Toft, Simon Lambert, Connor Mountain, Zaine Kennedy and Joe Thompson, while the identity of Scorpions’ No 1 for the next year is due to be revealed next Thursday (December 22).

Allen collected the league and cup double for Somerset in his first season of British Speedway in 2016. He signed for Scunthorpe in late 2017 and quickly developed into one of the most popular riders for the club.

He travelled over to Britain for the 2020 season – aborted due to Covid – and decided he could not afford to make another potentially wasted journey from Australia the following year. By the time it was clear that the 2021 season would take place and he had a change of mind, Scunthorpe had already brought in Jake’s friend Josh Macdonald in his place and Jake went to Redcar instead.

Allen returned to the Eddie Wright Raceway in 2022, but he suffered a season blighted by various issues including a spell on the sidelines due to injury.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I’m convinced Jake is going to have an amazing year in 2023. He’s pumped up for it and everything is dropping into place for him. He knows how to do it, and he is going to do it, simple as.

“I think he needs to be riding more, which is what he lacked last year. Now that he’s got a team place at Leicester in the Premiership, that’s going to make a world of difference to him. He started last year at Belle Vue as well as riding for us, but that’s when he had some personal issues off the track to cope with, so his preparation for the season wasn’t good.

“He just got chucked in at Belle Vue and didn’t himself any favours to be honest, so he was let go, then he got another opportunity at Sheffield but then got injured and lost his team place there too, so it was just one of those years for him.

“Doubling up will do him the world of good and he’ll be starting at Leicester in the Premiership at reserve. All the Scunthorpe fans now how good Jake can be, he and Josh Auty shared the No 1 spot in 2019. Jake is still only a young man – we didn’t see the best of him in 2022, but I’m convinced we will in 2023.”