Signing No 1: Czech-mate to Scorpions

CZECH REPUBLIC Under-21 Champion Zdenek Holub will return to the Scunthorpe Scorpions for a full season in 2016.

The 19-year-old sensation is the first signing for the club, as they look to build a team to reach the Premier League play-offs. He comes in on an assessed 7.00 average.

Holub made three appearances in the latter part of the 2015 season for the FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, coming into the side in the place of the injured Josh Auty at the No 1 position.

Many riders would have found that a daunting leap, but after a tough debut at Sheffield, the Czech Republic international scored a great 8 paid 10 on his first home appearance against Newcastle, including a win and paid win.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “I firmly believe that Zdenek Holub is going to be a rider to watch within the 2016 Premier League.

“We saw what he was capable of, in the home match against Newcastle last season. He hadn’t seen our track before, but ended up paid for double figures, despite the fact we were forced to track him in the No 1 position.

“In his next meeting for us, against Sheffield at the Eddie Wright Raceway, he didn’t score as many points, but came up with a vital 5-1 in Heat 13 with Leigh Lanham.

“No-one can doubt the lad’s commitment to this club. A couple of weeks ago he flew all the way over from the Czech Republic to be at our end-of-season awards.”

There’s also no doubting Holub’s credentials. He has competed in Under-21 championships at the highest level, and to triumph in the 2015 Czech Republic Under-21 Championship, he had to defeat Eduard Krcmar, who rode for Elite League Swindon last season.

In addition, he was the highest-placed home nation rider in the highly prestigious Czech Golden Helmet.

Holub has chosen riding for Scunthorpe ahead of riding in Poland in 2016. Godfrey adds: “He’s got Czech and Under-21 commitments, but we’ll manage those and plan around them accordingly.

“He’s an ambitious young man who is going places, and we’re delighted to have him back at Scunthorpe.

“Zdenek is going to be visiting most of the tracks for the first time, but that’s not going to phase him. At our place, it took him until just his second ride to work the place out.

“I’m delighted with this signing – I really am. By the end of the season, he will be a star rider in the Premier League.”

The Scorpions will announce their second signing next Thursday.