Feast of Bank Holiday action at Eddie Wright Raceway

A NEW-LOOK FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, take to the track during a 31-heat feast of speedway at the Eddie Wright Raceway this afternoon (Bank Holiday Monday, 3pm).

Both Ryan Douglas – returning from injury, after snapping the tendons in his knee – and Ben Wilson make their seasonal debuts for Scunthorpe against Somerset Rebels.

Australian Douglas rode for the Scorpions in both the last two seasons, while Englishman Wilson was last a Scorpion in 2011.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey comments: “The introduction of Ryan Douglas and Ben Wilson (pictured) could be a real game-changer for us this season. It gives our team real strength throughout.

“It’s a big afternoon ahead. We’ve lost our first two home Premier League meetings, and we need to beat Somerset.

“There have been some epic encounters with the Rebels around the Eddie Wright Raceway in the past, who were our opponents in the play-off final when we won the Premier League in 2012.

“It’s going to be an afternoon of some top notch speedway action.”

The Scorpions will use rider replacement for Josh Auty. Both Andre Compton and Ashley Birks were lined up to guest, but both suffered spills riding for Sheffield over the weekend. With Edinburgh’s Kevin Wolbert in international action and ten Premier League clubs in action today, a suitable guest was not available.

“Rider replacement can do the job for us”, says Godfrey. “We sometimes use it through choice in home meetings in any case.”

The second meeting today is a 16-heat four team tournament between the Scunthorpe Stags, Halifax Dukes, Exeter Falcons and Belle Vue Colts.

Admission prices for this afternoon:

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 this afternoon:

FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance: 1. Rider replacement 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.