Davies proves trump card for Scorpions

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 49 BERWICK BANDITS 44 (PREMIER LEAGUE)

A FINE 16-point haul from Australian Alex Davies from the reserve berth helped FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, to a 49-44 victory over the Berwick Bandits in the bottom of the table clash at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

The Scorpions stormed into a 18-6 lead after four races and never really looked like losing, although excellent performances from Bandits’ guest Ryan Fisher and Thomas Jorgensen kept the scores relatively close for most of the evening, as the visitors snatched a league point courtesy of a 4-2 in a barnstorming Heat 15, in which Davies won a battle with Jorgensen for second place.

Earlier there had been one of the races of the season in Heat 8, with ever-changing positions. The race went from a 5-1 to the Bandits early on, to a 5-1 to the Scorpions as Theo Piper and Nike Lunna fought their way through, until one further change as Richard Hall overhauled Lunna for second place.

The Bandits briefly threatened to come back into the meeting, but never reduced the deficit to less than five. A fine win for Davies over Jorgensen in Heat 11 (Lunna also led Jorgensen for most of the race, before being overhauled on the final lap) settled any home nerves.

New Scorpions’ signing 17-year-old Dane Andreas Lyager, having never raced around the Eddie Wright Raceway before, took a notable in his first-ever outing at the track in Heat 3 – a race including Jorgensen – and finished with a hugely creditable 6 points.

Skipper Theo Pijper (10+1) and guest Nikolai Klindt (7+1) provided supported for Davies, but all six Scorpions scored a win or a paid win at some point of proceedings, in what was a good all-around performance against a Berwick side with two star performers.

Alex Davies said: “I was a bit nervous going into the meeting, because it’s a long time since I’ve ridden at reserve. But it couldn’t have gone much better, with me only dropping two points in six rides.

“Everyone says it’s easier riding at reserve. It is, but only to an extent, you still have to go out against the top boys at some stage, especially when you are given extra rides. I beat everyone apart from Ryan Fisher, so I’m pretty happy with that. If I could have got out in front of Ryan, I think I could have beat him as well. I’m pretty stoked with this meeting.

“The team has had a nightmare season with injuries and so on. We just want to finish the season well, by winning some matches.

“This has probably been the most frustrating season of my life. My sponsors and myself have put a lot of money into my bikes, but it just hasn’t quite happened. Having a year out of the sport makes it so tough coming back. It takes so long to get going, and on top of that, I’ve probably had more crashes this year than I’ve ever had.

“But these years happen, and I just want to finish the season as well as possible, and then take that into next season.”

SCUNTHORPE 49: Alex Davies 16, Theo Pijper 10+1, Nicolai Klindt 7+1, Andreas Lyager 6, Carl Wilkinson 5+1, Nike Lunna 5+1, Ryan Douglas r/r
BERWICK 44: Ryan Fisher 17, Thomas Jorgensen 14+1, Richard Hall 5, Mathias Thornblom 4, Alex Edberg 3, Fernando Garcia 1, Claus Vissing r/r

* The clash between Plymouth and Scunthorpe tonight (Saturday) has already been postponed after heavy rain in South Devon. A re-staging date will be advised in due course.

PHOTO: Alex Davies leads Thomas Jorgensen in Heat 11.