Scorpions in double date with Bears

A VITAL COUPLE of days lay ahead for the FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, as the team face the Redcar Bears home and away in Premier League action.

The Scorpions firstly travel north to the South Tees Motor Park on Thursday, before entertaining the Bears in the return fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening (7.30pm).

Scunthorpe currently sit in third place in the Premier League table on a total of 28 points, the same number of points as second placed Ipswich. Two positive results will see the Scorpions move into second place, behind only runaway leaders Edinburgh.

Last week, the Scorpions hit 60 points for the first time this season, registering a 60-35 home win over Rye House, with a back-to-his-best David Howe scoring a fine paid 18-point maximum.

Redcar, having ridden one meeting more than Scunthorpe, are currently in eighth place on 19 points, some nine points behind the Scorpions. However, the Bears completed the early season double over the Scunthorpe in the League Cup, so there will be no complacency in the Scunthorpe camp.

Redcar contain two former Scunthorpe riders, Carl Wilkinson and Jan Graversen, in their ranks, with Wilko, in particular, being a Scorpions’ legend.

Team manager Dave Peet says: “In our last 3 or 4 home meetings, we have been very dominant, and that was been very pleasing to see. Our riders have really started to perform on a consistent basis around the Eddie Wright Raceway.

“We need another performance like that at home to Redcar on Friday. They won at our place in April, and we’re determined not to see a repeat of that.

“But if we’re going to turn into real contenders in the Premier League, we need some consistency in our away performances as well. We need to take the confidence built up by our recent home performances, take that in our away meetings, and start performing on the away tracks as well.”

Scunthorpe are likely to again use the rider replacement facility for Josh Auty in the two meetings against Redcar. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman is recovering from having his appendix removed.

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER…

With North Lincolnshire’s schools having broken up for the summer holidays earlier this week, Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey is hoping for a bumper turn-out of youngsters at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening.

Scunthorpe changed their cut-off point for admission prices for children prior to the start of the 2014 season, raising it so that all those under 18 are now regarded as children in terms of admission.

Speaking at the time of its introduction, Godfrey said: “I think we might be the first club to do it. The cut-off point is normally 16, but we’re going to raise that to 18.

“It’s the sensible thing to do. I suppose we might lose a few quid from those already coming in; but I prefer to see it as an opportunity of encouraging a few more younger people along.

“16 and 17-year-olds don’t have a lot of money and these days they have to still be in some form of education. By the time they are 18, they can leave education and are subject to a higher minimum wage.

“The school-leaving age has been raised, and it makes sense to move with the times. I think it will benefit us in the long-term. We’ll monitor it and see what it brings in.”

Godfrey now adds: “The schools have now broken up for the summer and the days are long and hot.

“By the evening, the young people from this area are probably looking for something a bit different. If they are, I hope we can tempt a few in the direction of the Eddie Wright Raceway.

“If they are under 18, the admission price is only £5. What better way to spend the night than coming along with your mates to watch the only motorsport with no brakes.”

There are 24 heats of action in total on Friday, with a nine-heat second half, including a Midland Development League match between Castleford and Long Eaton.

Admission prices for Friday:

Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00

Expected teams for Friday (English unless stated):

FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Nicolai Klindt (Denmark), 2. David Howe, 3. Ashley Birks, 4. Rider replacement for Josh Auty, 5. Ryan Douglas (Australia), 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark).

Redcar Bears: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Hugh Skidmore (Australia), 3. Mark Lemon (Australia), 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Aaron Summers (Australia), 6. Jan Graversen (Denmark), 7. Rafal Konopka (Poland)

Midland Development League teams:
Castleford: 1. Danny Phillips, 2.Tom Bacon, 3. Adam Portwood, 4.Ben Hewitt.
Long Eaton: 1. Layne Cupitt, 2. Alex Wilson, 3. Lee Geary, 4. TBA.

Redcar Bears at EWR

Ave Ave Best
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Jan Graversen PL 21 94 107 26 4.55 5.66 9 + 4 from 7 rides (2012)
Rafal Konopka DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Richard Lawson PL 10 42 65 6 6.19 6.76 13 + 1 from 5 rides (2014)
Mark Lemon PL 9 44 84 5 7.64 8.09 18 + 1 from 6 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2009))
Hugh Skidmore PL 17 80 130 10 6.50 7.00 11 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2012))
Aaron Summers PL 14 64 87 8 5.44 5.94 10 + 3 from 5 rides (2014)
Carl Wilkinson PL 86 385 700 66 7.27 7.96 16 + 1 from 6 rides (2010)

Other Notes

Jan Graversen
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion.
Member of King’s Lynn’s Premier League Championship, Premier Trophy and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2009.

Rafal Konopka
Made his Premier League debut for Redcar in April 2014.

Richard Lawson
Member of Workington’s Premier League Fours Winning Team in 2009.
Member of Workington’s Young Shield Winning Team in 2010.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Lakeside for the 2014 Elite League Season.

Mark Lemon
Member of Exeter’s Premier Trophy Winning Team in 2004.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Trophy and Play-Off Winning Teams in 2010.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011.

Hugh Skidmore
2009 New South Wales State Champion.
Made his Premier League debut in 2009 for Sheffield and now in his second season with Redcar.

Aaron Summers
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2008.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Play-Off Winning Teams in 2008 and 2009.
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Birmingham’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2010.

Carl Wilkinson
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion.
Member of Boston’s Conference League KO Cup Winning Team in 2000.
Member of Peterborough’s Conference League Winning Team in 1997.

Redcar Bears’ Results at EWR

30 March 2008 PT D Scunthorpe 45 Redcar 45
06 June 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 52 Redcar 41
19 June 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Redcar 44
31 July 2009 KOC L Scunthorpe 50 Redcar 39
02 October 2009 YS L Scunthorpe 56 Redcar 34
05 April 2010 PT L Scunthorpe 50 Redcar 42
02 May 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 57 Redcar 34
09 September 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 52 Redcar 41
07 October 2011 PL Ph 2 L Scunthorpe 65 Redcar 25
27 April 2012 LC L Scunthorpe 54 Redcar 36
14 September 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 55 Redcar 38
14 June 2013 KOC W Scunthorpe 41 Redcar 49
12 July 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 45 Redcar 44
06 April 2014 LC W Scunthorpe 37 Redcar 50