Scorpions sign experienced Lanham

SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey has pulled another rabbit out of the hat, by securing the services of vastly experienced Leigh Lanham for the rest of the season, in place of broken leg victim Ryan Douglas.

Lanham, subject to BSPA approval, will make his debut for the FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, in the huge clash against local rivals Sheffield Tigers at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

The 38-year-old’s career started with local club Ipswich in 1993, and he won the 1997 British Under-21 Championship.

A rider with considerable experience at every level of British Speedway, he has spent the majority of this season with Somerset, adding nearly two points to his starting average, but was recently released after a late-season reshuffle by the Rebels.

Godfrey says: “Leigh Lanham needs little introduction to our fans. He’s a professional and experienced rider, who knows the best way around our track. He scored 11+2 for Somerset at Scunthorpe earlier in the year.

“We felt we needed to get back up to the full complement of seven riders for our remaining fixtures this season. We just about got away with using rider replacement against Berwick last week, but using R/R does limit – to an extent – what we can do within a meeting.

“I feel Leigh’s introduction will place us in a better position, as we look to overcome Sheffield on Bank Holiday Monday at the Eddie Wright Raceway in what is a massive local derby meeting for us.

“We’ve signed a couple of young riders recently in the shape of Zdenek Holub and Andreas Lyager, and bringing in Leigh restores the balance between youth and experience within our team.

“Our thanks go to Debbie Hancock and the Somerset promotion for their help in us securing Leigh’s services for the rest of the 2015 season.”

Excitement is growing in the countdown to Bank Holiday Monday. In what is surely one of the best value afternoons of speedway this season, there will be 38 heats on offer for the price of just £17 for adults. Accompanied children under the age of 16 go free.

In addition to the mouth-watering Scunthorpe vs Sheffield Premier League derby match, the best 16 young riders across 10 tracks go head-to-head in the 23-heat Midland Development League Riders’ Championship.