Super Scorpions cruise into cup semi-finals

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 61 BIRMINGHAM BRUMMIES 29 (Knockout Cup, quarter-final, second leg)
Scorpions win 107-73 on aggregate

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions scored a crushing 61-29 victory over Birmingham Brummies in the second leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final tie at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday), to win by a whopping 107-73 on aggregate.

Scorpions never looked troubled. Already holding a 46-44 lead from the away leg, they flew into a 14-4 lead after three races and had progressed after Heat 10 with five races to spare, at which point the scoreline was 42-18.

Despite the final lopsided scoreline, there was some great racing on display. Michael Palm Toft experienced clutch problems and was last of the gate in almost every ride. It didn’t stop him scoring paid 11 with a spectacular display of riding, including a burst from last to first in Heat 7.

Skipper Simon Lambert was again on top form. He was last out of the gate in Heat 9, but he passed firstly Joe Thompson and then Justin Sedgmen on the third lap, as he came through to join Jake Allen – who had also passed Sedgmen earlier in the race – for a 5-1.

The most spectacular race came in Heat 13. Birmingham pair Nick Morris and Sedgmen held a 5-1 early on, with the riders were four abreast down the back straight. Somehow all four riders made it into the third bend, while Ryan Douglas and Palm Toft emerged in front and took a 5-1.

Recent signing Drew Kemp is quickly sizing up the Eddie Wright Raceway and scored eight points – including a win over Morris in Heat 1 and a further heat win in Heat 8 – while Nathan Ablitt also won his first race as a Scorpion in Heat 2.

Lambert – in the form of his life – rode his socks off to protect Connor Mountain from Zach Cook in Heat 12. The Scunthorpe skipper almost completed back-to-back paid maximums, but Morris passed early-leader Mountain in Heat 15, and there was no catching him from there.

Four Scorpions were paid for double figures – Mountain (11+2), Lambert (10+4), Douglas (10) and Palm Toft (9+2) – while Allen (9) and Kemp (8) also scored heavily. Ablitt contributed four – his last three appearances for the club have all seen him amongst the points and his efforts are well appreciated by the supporters.

Speaking post-meeting, skipper Simon Lambert said: “It was another really fantastic performance from the team, with everyone chipping in points.

“Nathan (Ablitt) is really starting to get it together – and it’s great to see. He’s got the right attitude – he’s asking questions and he’s a 100% trier. The reserves were high-flying tonight and that made it a great all-around team performance.

“Drew (Kemp) is now settling in. He’s the rider that Rob (Godfrey) wanted in all along and he’s starting to show what we know he’s capable of. I don’t think it will be long before he’s riding in the Premiership too.

“I really think we can win something this year, we’re going to be contention in the league and we’re now through to the semi-finals of the cup. We had a good team, but now I think the team we’ve ended up with is even stronger than before.

“It would have been nice to get another maximum. But I’ve had a few now – I had one last week. It would have been great to get a five-ride maximum tonight, but I can’t be too disappointed with paid 14.

“I’m scoring those sort of points, despite a lack of rides compared to some of the boys. Some of them are doing 3 or 4 meetings a week – I’m often doing quite only one meeting per week. I’m hoping my form is noticed and that I get snapped up by a Premiership club, because I’ve shown what I can do.

“We’re working as a team and we’re getting the results. I always tell the boys there’s not seven of us, there’s 14, the mechanics included. We’re all pulling together and if we continue to do that with the team we’ve got, we can pick up some silverware.”

Scorpions will face Redcar Bears in the semi-finals on dates yet to be agreed. Defending champions Poole await the winners of the semi-final in the final.

SCUNTHORPE 61: Connor Mountain 11+2, Simon Lambert 10+4, Ryan Douglas 10, Michael Palm Toft 9+2, Jake Allen 9, Drew Kemp 8, Nathan Ablitt 4.
BIRMINGHAM 29: Nick Morris 9, Zach Cook 8+1, Justin Sedgmen 7, Alfie Bowtell 3, Joe Thompson 1, James Pearson 1, Stefan Nielsen r/r.
Scunthorpe win 107-73 on aggregate

* IN the following British Youth Championship round, the class winners were Jamie Etherington (250cc) and Kane Newby (125cc support).

* ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are back in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway next Friday (June 16, 7.30pm) when the club host the Plymouth Gladiators in the Cab Direct Championship.

Report by Rob Peasley
PHOTO: Recent signing Drew Kemp beating Nick Morris in Heat 1 (pic: IAN RISPIN)