Three out of three for flying Scorpions

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 55 BIRMINGHAM BRUMMIES 35 (BSN Series – Northern)

LED by an untouchable full maximum from Dashing Dane Michael Palm Toft, Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions maintained their 100% start to the season with a convincing 55-35 victory over Birmingham Brummies at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

Scorpions not only took the two points for the win, but also the aggregate bonus point by 104-76 against Brummies.

In the Northern Group of the BSN Series, Scunthorpe have won all three matches so far: a 50-40 home victory over Redcar on Good Friday, a 49-41 away victory at Birmingham on Wednesday and last night’s emphatic victory.

Scorpions head to Redcar next Friday (April 28) knowing that 41 points and the aggregate bonus point would clinch their place in the semi-finals.

Scorpions’ heat-leaders looked almost untouchable last night. Palm Toft went through the card, with four victories out of four. He chose not to take his rightful place in Heat 15, since he felt his engine was running hot and could have blown given another outing.

Palm Toft was twice beaten out of the gate. In Heat 4, he flew around Justin Sedgmen on the fourth bend. He was initially third in Heat 7, but he produced a terrific burst of speed around the outside and had passed both Stefan Nielsen and Zack Cook by the back straight of lap two.

Scorpions’ No 1 Ryan Douglas was all over fellow Australian Nick Morris in Heat 1, but had to settle for second place, but was unbeaten thereafter. Jake Allen did not lose to an opposing rider prior to Heat 15, where was involved in a battle royal for the minor placings with Sedgmen and Cook, but eventually finished fourth.

It wasn’t just a three-man display from Scorpions, as all seven riders did their job. Connor Mountain scored an impressive 7+2. He joined Allen for 5-1s in Heat 3 and Heat 9 and, in both races, won second place from behind, passing Cook and Sedgmen respectively.

Scorpions’ skipper Simon Lambert was unlucky not to score more. He fought through from fourth to second in Heat 6, passing Sedgmen and Ty Proctor. There appeared to be contact as Sedgmen barged back through into second on the final lap, but the referee did not see anything untoward, and instead it was Lambert who was harshly excluded for his fall. Lambert was beaten out of the start by the Birmingham pair in Heat 8, but he passed Proctor and just missed out to Alfie Bowtell in a photo-finish.

Jason Edwards again proved to be a decent guest replacement for the injured Zaine Kennedy, winning two races, while Joe Thompson looked better than his two points and lost a point to a puncture in Heat 12.

Scorpions quickly flew into a 20-10 lead after four successive heat advantages between Heat 2 and Heat 5, but a brief Birmingham renaissance took the scoreline to 28-20 after eight heats. But a 5-1 and a 4-2 to Scorpions in Heats 9 and 10 left the scoreline at 37-23 and it was just a matter of time before Scorpions claimed victory. That eventually came via a 5-1 from Palm Toft and Douglas in Heat 13, after Morris picked up a bizarre penalty for delaying the start.

Speaking post-meeting, Michael Palm Toft said: “It was a great to pick up a maximum, while it was brilliant that the team won by 55-35.

“Tonight’s meeting proved the track suits our riders as it is prepared. It allows us to race if we miss the gate, but it wouldn’t be to the liking of a lot of away riders who might find it too slick. But the supporters get to see good racing, while it sets us up with a home track advantage. In my first two races where I didn’t gate, I soon got to the front.

“We know what we need to do at Redcar next week to win our group, as we have a ten-point lead on them. But we don’t go into meetings trying to pick up the aggregate bonus point – we want to win them. We’ll go to Redcar seeking another win, but we’ve got a back-up which is nice to have.

“I’m happy to be back at Scunthorpe this season. I’m only just around the corner – I live only 40 minutes away from the track. I’m coming back from an injury from last year, so I didn’t want to travel too far and also I wanted a track I already knew, so when Rob (Godfrey) contacted me, I took the opportunity. It’s a good track and we’ve got a strong team this year which is capable of challenging for and winning silverware.”

SCUNTHORPE 55: Ryan Douglas 13+1, Michael Palm Toft 12, Jake Allen 11+1, Connor Mountain 7+2, Jason Edwards 6, Simon Lambert 4+1, Joe Thompson 2.
BIRMINGHAM 35: Zach Cook 8+2, Justin Sedgmen 8, Nick Morris 7, Ty Proctor 5+1, Alfie Bowtell 4+1, Stefan Nielsen 3, James Pearson 0.
Scunthorpe win the aggregate bonus point by 104-76.

REPORT by Rob Peasley

PHOTO: Michael Palm Toft completes his full maximum in Heat 13 (PIC: IAN RISPIN)