Flyin’ Ryan returns for third season with Scorpions

AUSTRALIAN Ryan Douglas will spend a third season in the colours of the Scunthorpe Scorpions in 2015.

The 21-year-old joins Finland’s Nike Lunna as a confirmed starter in next year’s line-up for the North Lincolnshire team.

Douglas was plagued by visa issues over the 2013-2014 winter, and it was touch and go whether he would be able to return to the Scorpions. After a lot of effort on Ryan’s behalf by the Scunthorpe promotion, he was allowed to take his place on a temporary tier-five visa.

That effort was rewarded as Douglas totted up huge scores from the reserve berth in the opening few weeks of the season. He spent most of the rest of the year in the difficult No 5 position, but continued to score freely, especially around his home track, the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We’re delighted that Ryan will be back again in 2015.

“It’s probably the worst kept secret in speedway, since we more-or-less confirmed that Ryan would be back, when I interviewed him on the centre green during our final meeting of the year.

“Ryan has become a Scunthorpe lad through-and-through. He’s now part of the furniture and he fits in very well.

“He is always looking to push himself forward, and he’s bought two very good bikes from Darcy Ward.

“Ryan has got it all – he can gate, and he come from behind. He flies around our place, and is getting better all the time on the other tracks.

“He’s come so far in the last two years, and I expect him to be in contention for the No 1 racejacket at Scunthorpe next season.”

While Douglas is returning in 2015, a couple of other riders, Ashley Birks and Thomas Jorgensen, will not be back. Birks has already signed for Sheffield, his hometown club.

Godfrey would like to put on record, that their departure was a mutual decision, and that both leave on good terms.

He said: “Towards the end of the season, we put out feelers to the riders, to see who wants to come back the following season.

“In the case of Thomas and Ash, it became obvious that they both felt they needed a fresh challenge.

“We didn’t fire them out of the door, or anything like that.

“Both leave on good terms. There’s no hard feelings on our side, and I don’t think there is from Thomas or Ash either.

“Both have been a big part of this club over the last few years, and have been part of some highly memorable times. I thank them for the part they’ve played in that, and wish them the best for the future.

“It’s given us a chance to freshen up our team a bit, and will enable us to bring in some new faces. We’ve already brought in Nike Lunna.

“It’s an exciting new chapter for the club.”

Godfrey also confirmed he is still looking for riders to complete his 2015 septet.

“This year, it’s not a case that we’ve signed the complete team and are simply drip feeding the names one at a time”, he confirmed.

“We still have vacancies for the 2015 Scorpions. We would be interested in any rider who wants to ride for us and feels he could do a good job for us.”