Bank holiday double-header preview
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, stage their first home Premier League fixture of the season against reigning league champions Edinburgh Monarchs at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).
There are 30-heats of speedway action on offer in total, with the second half consisting of the Scunthorpe Stags taking on the Halifax Dukes in a National League challenge match, where much of the interest will focus on the return of 2005 Scorpions’ skipper Wayne Carter to action.
The Bank Holiday bonanza of action completes a busy weekend for the Scorpions. The team travel up to Scotland to face Edinburgh on Friday, and then venture to Newcastle on Sunday, for the first leg of their Knockout Cup tie with the Diamonds.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “Bank Holiday Monday is a big day for this club.
“Firstly, we need to get our home Premier League fixtures off to a flying start. That’s not going to be easy to do, because Edinburgh have started the season well, while we’re still finding our feet.
“We will battle and fight all the way on Monday. Every point will count. We need a backs-to-the-wall performance, to take the points, and then our Premier League campaign will kick on from there.”
Godfrey also stresses the importance of a good attendance on Monday.
“The crowds that come to the 12 Premier League meetings at the Eddie Wright Raceway this season, the first one of which takes place on Monday, are the key to the future of this club.
“I was honest with our supporters at the end of last season, and told them the crowds we needed for this year.
“There’s so much I believe we do right. We provide what I believe is the best racetrack in the country. We put on a slick show and don’t hang around.
“We’ve tweaked a few things this year at the request of the fans. For example, when we win at home, the riders are dropped off at the starting gate, so that the supporters have more of a chance to inter-act with them.
“We treat entertainment right at the top of the list. We had quite a few new supporters here this year who had not been to speedway before and from the emails we’ve received since, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and couldn’t believe what a great night out the speedway is.
“Our hardcore fans are a great bunch, and I would just like to re-iterate to them to keep on spreading the word, because once we entice new supporters along, I’m sure they will love what they see and come back.”
This weekend sees changes in the riding order for the Scorpions, with the issue of the new Green Sheet averages. ‘Mr Entertainment’ Josh Auty, following a strong start to the season, moves to No 1, Nike Lunna shifts up to No 3, Theo Pijper takes over at No 5, and trump-card Alex Davies will drop to No 7.
The Scorpions will again be without David Howe, who is recovering from damaging his shoulder in a workshop accident, and also have an injury doubt in Ellis Perks, who took a hefty fall at Kent on Monday, while representing his National League club, Cradley Heath and damaged his knee ligaments.
Perks will miss the trip to Edinburgh on Friday, with Scunthorpe asset Matt Williamson covering for him. Perks will have a run-out at Buxton on Sunday, and if fit, will take his place at Newcastle on Sunday night.
If he is not fit, then Tom Stokes will guest for him at Newcastle, while Williamson will again be brought in on Monday at No. 6.
Bank Holiday Monday’s adult admission price for the double-header is £17. It’s just £2 more than a single Premier League meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway, for 15 extra heats of action. A full and exciting afternoon of racing is ahead. DON’T MISS IT!
Admission prices for Bank Holiday Monday:
Adult: £17.00
Student/OAP: £15.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £39 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for Bank Holiday Monday:
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance: 1. Josh Auty, 2. Rider replacement for David Howe, 3. Nike Lunna, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Theo Pijper, 6. Ellis Perks or Matt Williamson, 7. Alex Davies.
Edinburgh Monarchs: 1. Sam Masters, 2. Rider replacement for Erik Riss, 3. Kevin Wolbert, 4. Justin Sedgmen, 5. Craig Cook, 6. Max Clegg, 7. Robert Branford.
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Lee Payne, 2. Robert Parker, 3. Ryan Blacklock, 4. Rob Shuttleworth, 5. Adam Extance, 6. Jamie Halder, 7. Luke Whitehead.
Halifax Dukes: 1. Wayne Carter, 2. Paul Burnett, 3. Adam Kirby, 4. David Speight, 5. Max Clegg, 6. Sam Darroch, 7. Bradley Seal.
Edinburgh Monarchs at EWR
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Robert Branford PL 3 13 6 0 1.85 1.85 3 from 5 rides (2011)
Max Clegg PL 1 4 1 0 1.00 1.00 1 from 4 rides (2014)
Craig Cook PL 11 49 95 1 7.76 7.84 18 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2013))
Sam Masters PL 6 29 38 3 5.24 5.66 13 from 6 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2012))
Justin Sedgmen PL 7 34 36 9 4.24 5.29 15 + 1 from 6 rides (2010)
Kevin Wolbert PL 6 27 43 2 6.37 6.67 12 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2014))
Other Notes
Robert Branford
2013 British Under-21 Champion.
2014 Victorian State Under-21 Champion.
Member of Buxton’s National League Championship, KO Cup and National Trophy Winning Teams in 2010.
A member of the Rye House 2015 National League team.
Max Clegg
Former Scunthorpe Saint.
Member of Dudley’s National League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2013.
Member of Cradley’s NL Championship, KO Cup, National Shield and 4-Team Championship Winning Teams in 2014.
A member of the Cradley Heath 2015 National League team.
Craig Cook
2012 Premier League Riders Champion.
2009 National League Riders Champion.
Rode in 2 Grand Prix and 1 World Cup events.
Member of Workington’s Young Shield Winning Teams in 2009 and 2010.
Member of Buxton’s National League Championship, KO Cup and National Trophy Winning Teams in 2010.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2013.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship, KO Cup and League Cup Winning Teams in 2014.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Belle Vue for the 2015 Elite League season.
Sam Masters
2011 Premier League Riders Champion.
2012 New South Wales State Champion.
2014 Victorian State Champion
Member of Poole’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship, KO Cup League Cup and Pairs Winning Teams in 2014.
Justin Sedgmen
2012 Victorian State Champion.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship, KO Cup and League Cup Winning Teams in 2014.
Kevin Wolbert
Twice German National Champion (2008, 2011)
Has rode in 6 World Cup events.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Play-Off Winning Team in 2009.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2010.
Rode as a member of the Poole Pirates Team that won the Elite League and KO Cup in 2011.
Edinburgh Monarchs’ Results at EWR
26 May 2008 PL W Scunthorpe 39 Edinburgh 53
25 May 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Edinburgh 44
11 July 2009 PT SF W Scunthorpe 44 Edinburgh 46
31 May 2010 PL W Scunthorpe 41 Edinburgh 48
02 May 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 46 Edinburgh 44
29 August 2011 PL(Ph 2) L Scunthorpe 50 Edinburgh 41
07 May 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 55 Edinburgh 37
30 September 2012 PLPO SF L Scunthorpe 59 Edinburgh 34
06 May 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Edinburgh 45
05 May 2014 PL W Scunthorpe 43 Edinburgh 48
