Bank holiday double header preview
NEW LOOK SCORPIONS IN BANK HOLIDAY TESTER
BOTH Ryan Douglas and Ben Wilson make their seasonal debuts for the FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, in what looks a humdinger of a Premier League meeting against the Somerset Rebels at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).
There are 31 races of exhilarating action on offer in total, with the 15-heat Premier League encounter followed by a 16-heat National League Four Team Challenge between the Scunthorpe Stags, Halifax Dukes, Belle Vue Colts and Exeter Falcons.
Douglas snapped the tendons in his knee in Australia during the winter, and therefore the missed the start of the season. His place was temporarily filled by Theo Pijper, although the Dutchman’s recent fine form (most notably a 15+1 return at Rye House), means he will be retained, and Douglas will replace the injured David Howe in the Scorpions’ line-up.
Englishman Wilson will move into the reserve berth, in place of Ellis Perks, to form what looks like a very potent partnership with the ever-improving Nike Lunna.
Douglas is in his third successive season for the Scorpions, while Wilson previously rode for the Scorpions in 2011, when he was a solid scorer and accumulated over 300 points for the club.
Scunthorpe’s new line-up is:
1. Josh Auty (8.09) – currently injured with a broken hand and will be replaced by guests and rider replacement for up to six weeks
2. Theo Pijper (7.45)
3. Ryan Douglas (6.73)
4. Carl Wilkinson (5.64)
5. Alex Davies (6.35)
6. Ben Wilson (4.86)
7. Nike Lunna (3.00)
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey comments: “Our season starts afresh on Monday. We’ve had a torrid time recently, but the dual introduction of both Ryan Douglas and Ben Wilson can, and I believe will, transform our season.
“Ryan has been practicing in Australia, and feels he is up to speed, although of course, it’s different racing in competitive meetings.
“He’s due to fly into England at 1pm later this afternoon (Friday), so he won’t have to rush straight into his first meeting. He’ll be able to practice this weekend around the Eddie Wright Raceway, as will Ben Wilson.
“Ryan has kicked on each season, and he will want to do the same this year. He will be pressing and competing for the No 1 spot at Scunthorpe, and that kind of competition is always healthy.”
Godfrey sees Wilson as a key signing for the Scorpions.
“Ben is starting the season late, but he had a whole couple of seasons out before he returned with Sheffield last season, so it’s like he’s only been out 10 minutes this time in comparison!
“He is immaculately prepared, professional & sharp out of the gate, and he knows the best way around the Eddie Wright Raceway.
“The bottom end of a team can often win or lose a meeting, and Ben’s introduction will considerably strengthen us in that era. Nike Lunna is improving all the time, and it won’t be long until we have the best reserve pairing in the league.
“With Ryan and Ben coming in, things are looking up for us for the first time this season. It will be even better when Josh Auty returns from his hand injury.”
Sheffield’s Andre Compton will guest for Auty on Monday.
Godfrey comments: “Andre is in a fantastic vein of form, and he’s highly capable of scoring good points around here.
“There’s so many other teams in action on Monday, I thought we’d struggle to get a decent guest. But we’ve landed on our feet in being able to book Andre.
“Going forward, we’ll consider whether it’s preferable to use guests or rider replacement for our home meetings. But on Monday, we had to go for a guest, to give Ryan and Ben a chance to settle down into the team.”
A cracker is on the cards. Clashes between Scunthorpe and Somerset, the two teams who contested the famous 2012 play-off final, always tend to be a bit special.
“The Somerset Rebels have, as always, put together a potent side”, Godfrey adds.
“But we really can’t afford to drop more home points. It’s our third daytime meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway this season, so the boys should know how to set up their bikes for this one. We need to finish the afternoon with the three points in the bag”, he concludes.
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 16 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. Andre Compton (guest for Josh Auty), 2. Theo Pijper, 3. Ryan Douglas, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Alex Davies, 6. Ben Wilson, 7. Nike Lunna.
Somerset Rebels: 1. Brady Kurtz, 2. Leigh Lanham, 3. Richie Worrall, 4. Charles Wright, 5. Josh Grajczonek, 6. Paul Starke, 7. Benji Compton.
Teams for National League Four Team Challenge:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Adam Extance, 2. Rob Shuttleworth, 3. Robert Parker, 4. Jamie Halder.
Halifax Dukes: 1. Liam Carr, 2. Adam Kirby, 3. Paul Burnett, 4. David Speight.
Belle Vue Colts: 1. Lee Payne, 2. David Holt, 3. Sam Ward, 4. Bradley Seal.
Exeter Falcons: 1. Connor Coles, 2. Tom Bacon, 3. Tyler Govier, 4. Saul Bulley.
Somerset Rebels at EWR
Ave Ave Best
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Benji Compton PL 18 44 35 9 3.18 4.00 6 + 2 from 5 rides (2008)
Josh Grajczonek PL 10 36 64 3 7.11 7.44 11 from 5 rides (2009)
Brady Kurtz PL 1 5 7 0 5.60 5.60 7 from 5 rides (2014)
Leigh Lanham PL 10 48 76 8 6.33 7.00 14 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2011))
Paul Starke PL 3 12 14 4 4.67 6.00 10 + 2 from 4 rides (2014)
Richie Worrall PL 9 42 72 5 6.86 7.33 13 from 5 rides (2012)
Charles Wright PL 7 30 32 4 4.27 4.80 11 + 1 from 6 rides (2014)
Other Notes
Benji Compton
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion and Saint who has scored over 1000 points for the club.
2008 Conference League Riders’ Champion.
Member of Mildenhall’s Conference League KO Cup Winning Team in 2003.
Member of Scunthorpe’s Conference League Championship, KO Cup, Trophy, Shield and Pairs Winning Teams in 2006.
Member of Scunthorpe’s Conference League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2007.
Member of King’s Lynn’s Premier League Trophy Winning Team in 2007.
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2014.
Josh Grajczonek
Queensland Under-16 Champion in 2004.
Twice Queensland Under-21 Champion in 2007 and 2008.
Six times Queensland State Champion in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Member of Glasgow’s Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Championship, KO Cup and PL Pairs Winning Teams in 2013.
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Teams in 2013 and 2014.
Recently named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Belle Vue for the 2015 Elite League season.
Brady Kurtz
Twice Australian Under-16 Champion (125cc) in 2010 and 2012.
New South Wales Under-16 Champion in 2012.
Twice New South Wales State Champion in 2013 and 2014.
New South Wales Under-21 Champion in 2014.
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Fours and Premier Shield Winning Teams in 2014.
Leigh Lanham
1997 British Under-21 Champion.
Member of Exeter’s Young Shield Winning Team in 1997.
Member of Newport’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Paul Starke
Member of Plymouth’s Conference Trophy and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2008.
Member of Plymouth’s National Trophy Winning Team in 2009.
Member of Newcastle’s PL KO Cup Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Dudley’s NL Championship, KO Cup, National Shield and Fours Winning Teams in 2013.
Member of Cradley’s NL Championship, KO Cup, National Shield and Fours Winning Teams in 2014.
Member of Somerset’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2014.
Member of Poole’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2015.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Poole for the 2015 Elite League season.
Richie Worrall
Former Scunthorpe Saint.
Member of Scunthorpe’s National League Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League Cup and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2012.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League Cup and Premier Shield Winning Teams in 2013.
Charles Wright
Member of Workington’s PL Fours and Young Shield Winning Teams in 2008.
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2013.
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Fours and Premier Shield Winning Teams in 2014.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Swindon for the 2015 Elite League season.
Somerset Rebels’ Results at EWR
05 May 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Somerset 39
13 April 2009 PT L Scunthorpe 53 Somerset 40
05 June 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 47 Somerset 43
03 May 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Somerset 40
02 October 2010 YS L Scunthorpe 70 Somerset 20
25 April 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Somerset 41
04 September 2011 PL Ph 2 L Scunthorpe 49 Somerset 41
27 August 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 50 Somerset 40
29 October 2012 PL POF L Scunthorpe 48 Somerset 42
27 May 2013 PL W Scunthorpe 37 Somerset 56
13 April 2014 PL L Scunthorpe 46 Somerset 44
26 September 2014 PL POSF L Scunthorpe 46 Somerset 44
* The FluidAir Power Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, also race at Somerset’s Oak Tree Arena tonight (Friday, 7.30pm) in Premier League action.
The Scorpions’ line-up is: 1. Ben Barker (guest for Josh Auty), 2. Theo Pijper, 3. R/R for David Howe, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Alex Davies, 6. Matt Williamson (NL guest for Ellis Perks), 7. Nike Lunna.
