SCUNTHORPE EDGED OUT IN THRILLER
SCUNTHORPE EDGED OUT IN THRILLER, AS WOODEN SPOON CONFIRMED
SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 43 REDCAR BEARS 45 (Cab Direct Championship)
ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions just lost out in an exciting concluding meeting of the season at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday). Visitors Redcar Bears eventually won 45-43, as they mathematically confirmed their place in the play-offs. Meanwhile, Scorpions will finish the season in ninth and final place in the Cab Direct Championship.
The race which eventually flipped the meeting in favour of Redcar was Heat 14. Firstly, Connor Mountain reared at the start and took an awkward tumble off the back of his bike. In the re-run, Ace Pijper steamed under Scorpions’ skipper Simon Lambert on the third bend, who came crashing down. It appeared Lambert had his front wheel taken away. But the referee excluded Lambert and Bears were gifted a 5-0 in the second re-run, although Pijper had a hairy moment, even with no opposition against him.
Redcar went from three points down to two points up thanks to that 5-0. Luke Harrison and Jake Allen were first away in the concluding Heat 15, but Allen went wide on the second bend and dropped to fourth place. Redcar guest Antti Vuolas overtook Harrison to move into the lead, but Scunthorpe’s homegrown teenage star was not to denied and re-passed the Finn on the third lap. But with Charles Wright in front of Allen, Redcar secured a victory that assures them of third place in the Cab Direct Championship, prior to the play-offs.
In an unusual meeting, Scorpions had also taken a 5-0 – in Heat 8. Zaine Kennedy bundled under both Jody Scott and Pijper on the third and fourth bends to join Lambert at the front. But Pijper ran out of room on the outside and came down. In the re-run, the impressive Scott moved from third to first, but then ran into the fence on the second lap, and was also excluded from the race.
Heavy afternoon rain left the EWR circuit much heavier than usual and fortune favoured the brave with a fast outside line.
The ‘re-match’ between Allen and Wright after their fisticuffs at Redcar a week before ended up 2-1 in Wright’s favour. Allen won the initial encounter in Heat 11 after fending off Wright, but Wright beat his rival in Heats 13 and 15. In Heat 13, Allen and Steve Worrall held a 5-1, only for Wright to cut through the middle on the second bend of lap two in a quality move.
Luke Harrison top-scored for Scorpions with 10+1. The 18-year-old said: “I felt that Heat 12 was going to be my last ride of the night and I was quite happy to have won my final race of the season around here.
“But Dave (Howe, Scorpions’ team manager) said he wanted me in Heat 15, so I turned my head back on for another race. I’ve had a paid win in Heat 15 before, but that was the first time I’ve won it at this level. I’m glad I had to battle to victory in the race. It wasn’t just all from the gate – I had to work for it and show what I can do.
“After my four programmed rides, I went back and complained to my dad and my mechanics that my bike felt slow tonight and we kept on making a few minor adjustments. I’m a bit surprised that I did a time in the 57s in my first ride, but the track was different tonight after it rained. Natural water is always better for a track than from a bowser, plus we’re starting to get to that time of year where it’s cooler and tracks across the country are changing.
“As a team, we’ve had a tough time this season. It’s certainly not been down to lack of effort. All the riders have given their all throughout the season, but it’s just not fallen our way.
“On a personal note, it’s been good for me. I scored my first maximum, I scored my highest score [paid 19 against Oxford], my average has gone up, and then tonight, I won my first Heat 15. On an individual note, I’m pleased – it’s just a shame we couldn’t get going as a team, but there’s always next season.”
Scunthorpe Speedway held their annual collection for the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund last night and raised £900.
SCUNTHORPE 43: Luke Harrison 10+1, Jake Allen 10, Simon Lambert 6+2, Zaine Kennedy 6+1, Steve Worrall 4+1, Connor Mountain 4, Ben Trigger 3+1.
REDCAR 45: Charles Wright 11+2, Danny King 9, Antti Vuolas 8, Jason Edwards 7, Jody Scott 6+2, Ace Pijper 2+1, Jake Mulford 2+1.
PHOTOS BY IAN RISPIN
