Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Ipswich Witches preview
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, will track a full side for the first time since April 19, when they entertain the on-form Ipswich Witches in a mouth-watering Premier League clash at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening (7.30pm).
Scorpions’ No 1 Josh Auty makes his return, after nine weeks on the sidelines with a broken hand. Auty tweeted on Wednesday: “Good day practicing, the hand feels good! Hopefully I’ll score some points Friday for @SpeedwayScunny.”
Meanwhile, skipper Theo Pijper will move to the No 3 spot, while Alex Davies (pictured above, leading Rohan Tungate) will move the other way to No 2.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey explains: “After consultation with the riders and also team manager Dave Peet, we’ve slightly changed things around, to see if it will benefit both Theo & Alex.
“In Alex’s case, he does need to push his average over 7.00 by the end of the season, to avoid any problems returning to the UK in 2016. Moving to No 2 will give him an inside gate in Heat 1, plus a ride in Heat 8. I have every confidence in Alex being able to push his average above 7.00 by the end of the season.”
In speedway, things can change around very quickly and the Scorpions, despite still being bottom of the Premier League, go into Friday’s encounter with a spring in their step after last week’s remarkable last-gasp win over Peterborough.
A 47-43 victory was obtained after Ryan Douglas – returning from injury – and guest Thomas Jorgensen scored two 5-1s in Heats 13 & 15, and Carl Wilkinson & Ben Wilson took maximum points from an enthralling Heat 14 which sent pulses racing.
Godfrey says: “It’s not good for my blood pressure, but I can see it going all the way again this Friday. Ipswich are decent opposition, and I think the racing is going to be absolutely top notch.
“For example, Heat 13 will contain Josh Auty, Ryan Douglas, Danny King and Nico Covatti going hell for leather around the best racetrack in the country.
“Last week’s meeting was superb entertainment, and I can’t see it being any different this week.”
There are 24 heats of action in total on Friday, with a nine-race second half including a six-heat Midland Development League match between Scunthorpe & Wolverhampton.
Admission prices for Friday:
Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for Friday:
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance: 1. Josh Auty, 2. Alex Davies, 3. Theo Pijper, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Ryan Douglas, 6. Ben Wilson, 7. Nike Lunna.
Ipswich Witches: 1. Danny King, 2. Cameron Heeps, 3. Gino Manzares, 4. Rohan Tungate, 5. Nico Covatti, 6. Stefan Nielsen, 7. Ashley Morris.
Midland Development League teams:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, 2. Stephen Whitehouse, 3. Sam Chapman, 4. Luke Whitehead.
Wolverhampton Wolf Cubs: 1. Mitchell Beckett, 2. Sam Wright, 3. Connor Fletcher, 4. Chris Bambury.
Ipswich Witches at EWR
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Best Performance
Nicolas Covatti PL 2 7 14 1 8.00 8.57 10 + 1 from 4 rides (2015)
Cameron Heeps PL 5 21 28 1 5.33 5.52 11 + 1 from 5 rides (2013)
Daniel King PL 1 5 9 1 7.20 8.00 12 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2014))
Gino Manzares PL 2 9 16 3 7.11 8.44 12 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2014))
Ashley Morris PL 4 17 15 5 3.53 4.71 5 + 3 from 4 rides (2013)
Stefan Nielsen PL 3 11 13 2 4.73 5.45 9 + 1 from 5 rides (2013)
Rohan Tungate PL 5 24 39 3 6.50 7.00 13 from 6 rides (2015)
Other Notes
Nicolas Covatti
Twice Argentinean Open Champion (2008 and 2013)
2013 Italian Champion
Has ridden in 2 Grand Prixs and 5 World Cup meetings.
Made his British League debut for Birmingham in 2012.
Cameron Heeps
2012 Western Australia State Champion.
Member of Mildenhall’s National League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Mildenhall’s 2012 National League Championship, KO Cup, Trophy and Pairs Winning Teams.
Daniel King
Has ridden in 8 Speedway World Cup Events.
2004 British Under-18 Champion.
Member of Peterborough’s Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2002.
Member of Mildenhall’s KO Cup Winning Team in 2003.
Member of Rye House’s Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2005.
Member of Peterborough’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2007.
Member of Ipswich’s Premier League Pairs Winning duo in 2015.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Coventry for the 2015 Elite League season.
Gino Manzares
Has represented the USA in 7 Speedway World Cup Events.
2012 US Under-21 National Champion.
Ashley Morris
Former Scunthorpe Saint.
2009 British Under-15 Champion.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Dudley’s National Shield and Fours Winning Teams in 2011.
Member of Dudley’s National Shield Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Dudley’s NL Championship, KO Cup, National Shield, Pairs and Fours Winning Teams in 2013.
Stefan Nielsen
Former Scunthorpe Saint who was a member of the 2011 National League Championship Winning Team.
Twice British Under-19 Champion (2012 and 2013)
Has Qualified for this year’s World Under-21 Final to be run over 3 meetings.
Member of Mildenhall’s 2012 National League Championship, KO Cup, Trophy and Fours Winning Teams.
Member of Somerset’s 2013 Premier League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams.
A Fast-Track Reserve with Belle Vue for the 2015 Elite League season.
Rohan Tungate
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2013.
Member of Ipswich’s Premier League Pairs Winning duo in 2015.
Ipswich’s Results at EWR:
03 June 2011 KOC1 L Scunthorpe 55 Ipswich 35
01 July 2011 KOC1R L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 37
05 August 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 39
26 June 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 61 Ipswich 31
19 April 2013 PL D Scunthorpe 45 Ipswich 45
20 June 2014 PL L Scunthorpe 55 Ipswich 38
03 October 2014 PL POSF L Scunthorpe 49 Ipswich 41
* The FluidAir Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, are also in action at Newcastle on Sunday (6.30pm). The meeting was arranged just a week in advance. Rob Godfrey says: “Apologies to the short notice for our travelling fans, but Newcastle had a blank week this week, and we’ve moved in to fill the gap. It’s all about a little co-operation between teams, and on this occasion, we’ve helped Newcastle out.”
