Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Berwick Bandits preview
TWO very familiar faces will line-up at No 1 respectively for the Scunthorpe Scorpions and Berwick Bandits in the key clash between the two sides at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening (7.30pm).
With 19-year-old Zdenek Holub called up to represent the Czech Republic in the semi-final of the Under-21 World Cup in Poland at the weekend, the FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, have bought in Danish star Nicolai Klindt as a guest replacement.
Klindt was a Scorpion in both 2013 and 2014, and rode at No 1 for the club for the majority of last season.
In opposition, Berwick have another former Scorpion, Thomas Jorgensen, at No 1. Jorgensen – who is also Danish – spent the first four years of his British career (2011-2014) with Scunthorpe, before joining the Bandits on loan in 2015.
Always a hugely popular figure at Scunthorpe, Jorgensen recently scored paid 14 in a guest appearance for the Scorpions against Peterborough.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “We’re delighted to have Nicolai Klindt riding for us on Friday. He remains a friend of the club, and we know he’ll always put in his all when riding while wearing a Scorpions’ racejacket.
“It will also be nice to have our old friend Thomas Jorgensen back at the Eddie Wright Raceway, where he will always be welcome, although of course, we hope that Tommy The Gun doesn’t score too many points on this particular occasion!
“Seriously though, there should be some cracking races between Nicolai & Thomas, who rode together as a pairing for us for a chunk of last season, and it will be interesting to see who wins the personal battle between the two Danes.
“But, of course, it’s not all about them; it’s all about which team comes out on top. Berwick have been almost as unfortunate as us with injuries this season, and both teams find themselves are at the wrong end of the table.
“We want those three points on Friday to close the gap on Berwick, but likewise the Bandits want the points to stop being dragged into the battle for the wooden spoon.
“It’s going to be an absolute belter, that’s almost for certain.”
Following the postponement of last week’s clash against Redcar (which has been re-arranged for September 4th), Friday will mark the debut of 17-year-old Dane Andreas Lyager for the Scorpions.
Godfrey insists there is no pressure on him.
“We’ve already said that everything Andreas scores is a bonus. The lad has a few meetings to get himself dialled into British tracks. If he scores a bundle, then that’s absolutely fantastic, but there won’t be pressure on him to do so.
“The effect his introduction has on the team is to push Alex Davies to reserve, and with Alex alongside Nike Lunna, I believe we now have one of the potent reserve pairings in the Premier League, although former Scorpion Richard Hall will be a threat at No 7 for the Bandits on Friday.”
A reminder of the special promotion, which will last to the end of the 2015 season, which sees all accompanied children under the age of 16 admitted for free to home Scorpions’ meetings.
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 & Belle Vue.
Admission prices for Friday:
Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (16 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 15) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 16-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for Friday:
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance: 1. Nicolai Klindt (guest for Zdenek Holub), 2. Theo Pijper, 3. Andreas Lyager, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Rider replacement for Ryan Douglas, 6. Alex Davies, 7. Nike Lunna.
Berwick Bandits: 1. Thomas Jorgensen, 2. Fernando Coty Garcia, 3. Mathias Thornblom, 4. Rider Replacement for Claus Vissing, 5. Ryan Fisher (guest for Kevin Doolan), 6. Alex Edberg, 7. Richard Hall.
Midland Development League teams:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Jamie Halder, 2. Stephen Whitehouse, 3. Luke Whitehead, 4. Sam Chapman.
Belle Vue Colts: 1. Andy Mellish, 2. Adam Sheppard, 3. Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, 4. Sam Darroch.
Berwick Bandits at EWR
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Best Performance
Alexander Edberg PL 2 9 7 1 3.11 3.56 6 + 1 from 5 rides (2012)
Fernando Garcia DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Richard Hall PL 47 215 384 25 7.14 7.61 17 from 6 rides (2008)
Thomas Jørgensen PL 77 355 638 77 7.19 8.06 18 + 1 from 7 rides (2011)
Mathias Thornblom DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Other Notes
Alexander Edberg
Made his Premier League debut in 2011 for Berwick.
Fernando Garcia
Made his Premier League debut for Berwick in June of this year against Plymouth.
Richard Hall
Former Scunthorpe rider who has scored over 450 points for the club.
Member of Peterborough’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2006.
Member of Peterborough’s Elite League Shield Winning Team in 2007.
Thomas Jørgensen
Scunthorpe asset who has scored almost 1200 points for the club and is currently 8th on the list of all-time points scorers for the club.
A Premier League Championship Winner with Scunthorpe in 2012.
Mathias Thornblom
Made his Premier League debut for Berwick in July of this year against Newcastle.
Rode in one meeting for Coventry in the 2012 Elite League.
Berwick’s Results at EWR
04 July 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 52 Berwick 41
04 September 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Berwick 42
23 April 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 62 Berwick 28
25 March 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Berwick 39
23 March 2012 LC L Scunthorpe 53 Berwick 40
27 July 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 48 Berwick 42
02 August 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 34 Berwick 31
09 September 2014 PL L Scunthorpe 62 Berwick 34
