Tom Perry in for Scorpions

FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions have introduced Tom Perry into their line-up for the rest of the season – with Matt Williamson making way for him.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey explained: “Matt broke a bone in his hand while riding for Cradley at Wolverhampton on Tuesday.

“He’s not 100% fit, but he was trying to ride with it for us on Scunthorpe on Wednesday and Redcar on Thursday, and the poor lad was struggling to hold onto the bike.

“I wanted to stick by Matt the whole season, I really did; that was the plan. He was really starting to turn his potential into points a couple of months back.

“He’s had a more difficult spell since then, and the injury was the deciding factor, because it’s too much asking him to go out there and score points when he’s not fully fit.

“We’ve been trying not to put Matt under too pressure this season, but he puts himself under so much pressure.”

Williamson’s whole-hearted efforts for the Scorpions have won the rider, who is a Scunthorpe club asset, a lot of fans at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Godfrey said: “He’s a smashing lad, he really is. He doesn’t put in a hundred percent – he puts a million percent into each ride.

“I want him to concentrate on getting himself fitter and stronger for next season, plus I think he’ll still be riding National League, because he can do that without putting the injury under too much stress. But Premier League is a different matter. Every ride is difficult and you can’t do it with an injury.

“We’ve made the change in Matt’s best interests. We’ve got a lot of meetings coming up, and the meetings will just get tougher from here. We’re very hoping to be in the play-offs and those meetings would do nothing for his confidence.

“He’s only been riding a speedway bike for two years, and he’s come such a long way. A lot of people thought he would sink without a trace in the Premier League this year, with just one year of National League experience behind him.

“That certainly hasn’t been the case, and he’s claimed a few prize scalps along the way.

“I certainly don’t rule out Matt from my team plans for next year. That’s a bit of an old cliché, and everyone says it, but I actually mean it.”

Tom Perry built up a hugely impressive pedigree in grasstrack, including winning the British Under-21 Championship and becoming the youngest qualifier to ride in the British Masters.

He switched to riding speedway for Dudley (Cradley) in 2010 and he has developed into a top rider in the National League, as well as spending a couple of seasons riding for Somerset in the Premier League (2012-2013).

After a year in the NL at the Isle Of Wight last season, the 21-year-old has returned to Cradley in 2014 – where he is a team-mate of Williamson – as well as spending a spell with Elite League Leicester as a Fast Track Reserve.

Godfrey said: “Tom will be a valuable addition to the team. It gives us someone with a little more experience.

“He’s got a grasstrack background, and doesn’t mind a bit of dirt, so he’ll do OK around Scunthorpe and he’ll be handy at places like Peterborough and Somerset as well.

“He gives us a bit more firepower at reserve. We’re not looking for huge scores from him, just for him to score a handful of points which could make a big difference to the result of a meeting.”

With Williamson ruled at the weekend due to his hand injury, Benji Compton will guest for Scunthorpe at Workington on Saturday night, before Perry makes his Scorpions’ debut in the return against the Comets at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday afternoon (3pm).