SCORPIONS SEEK RETURN TO LEAGUE SUMMIT

HIGH-FLYING Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions are hoping for a positive result at Edinburgh’s Armadale Stadium tomorrow evening (Friday, 7.30pm), as they commence a spell of two away meetings on successive days.

Scunthorpe are also away at Workington on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.  Scorpions are currently second in the Cab Direct Championship, only behind current league leaders Poole on race points difference, so the right results over this weekend would see them regain top spot in the table.

Scorpions will be without two of their usual septet.

Michael Palm Toft continues to be out with a broken collarbone. With his collarbone in four pieces, the Dane recently underwent surgery, which should help hasten his return. Scunthorpe will use rider replacement for Palm Toft at Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, Luke Harrison is representing Great Britain in the European Under-19 Pairs Championship in Pila, Poland on Saturday, so is ruled out of both of this weekend’s fixtures for Scorpions. He is replaced at Armadale by Mickie Simpson, who rides for the joint Scunthorpe and Sheffield National League side.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We used to have a pretty poor record at Edinburgh, but we won there twice last season. A lot of our lads go well around the tight confines of Armadale and we will approach the meeting with a positive attitude, although of course we’d prefer to have a full team.

“Edinburgh may be bottom of the table at the moment, but they’ve already beaten Oxford in the Cab Direct Championship and they seem to be finding some form. We’d like a good result to start off our weekend on the right note.”

Expected teams for tomorrow (Friday):

Edinburgh Monarchs: 1. Josh Pickering, 2. Kye Thomson, 3. Lasse Fredriksen, 4. Paco Castagna, 5. Justin Sedgmen, 6. Max James, 7. Connor Coles.

Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Kyle Howarth (pictured), 2. Connor Mountain, 3. Simon Lambert (captain), 4. Michael Palm Toft R/R, 5. Jake Allen, 6. Nathan Ablitt, 7. Mickie Simpson (guest).

* THE next home meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway is a double-header next Friday (June 28) against Edinburgh at the earlier than usual start-time of 7pm. Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions will race Edinburgh Monarchs in Cab Direct Championship action and that will be followed by the Scunthorpe Stags taking on the Edinburgh Monarchs Academy in the WSRA National League.