Signings No 5 & 6: Fans’ favourites return

NUMBER ONE Josh Auty and 2015 Rider Of The Year Carl Wilkinson will both return to the Scunthorpe Scorpions next season.

Both riders are assets of the club and both have served Scunthorpe with distinction over the last decade, and their return will come as no surprise to supporters.

The Scorpions are now almost complete with Auty and Wilkinson joining Czech Republic international Zdenek Holub and the Australian trio of Ryan Douglas, Alex Davies and Taylor Poole.

Scunthorpe have only their compulsory three-point British youngster left to announce.

Auty first rode for the club shortly after his 15th birthday in 2005, and his current spell at the Eddie Wright Raceway started in 2012. He has helped the Scorpions to three league championships and numerous other honours, and he is set to become the club’s highest-ever scorer in the year ahead.

The 25-year-old suffered an injury-hit 2015 season, making just one appearance post-May. That came on July 17, when Auty re-broke his wrist after a highly controversial post-race clash with Ipswich’s Rohan Tungate.

Tungate was given just a 21-day-ban by the Speedway Control Bureau for his actions, while innocent party Auty spent the rest of the season on the sidelines.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I’m delighted to have Josh Auty back as our No 1.

“He is both Mr Scunthorpe and Mr Entertainment.

“He’s the perfect leader for the team. If you need someone to go out and produce a big Heat 15, then Josh is your man. We’d be lost without him, and the fans simply love him.

“He’s now fit again, and I know he’s keen to start getting some practice laps in around the Eddie Wright Raceway.”

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Wilkinson will start the 2016 season in the No 6 reserve position – despite enjoying a fine season in 2015.

Wilko is a Scorpions’ stalwart, having spent a previous stint at the club between 2008 and 2011.

Godfrey says: “To me, the fact Wilko is on a 5.33 Green Sheet Average is one of those little quirks, because when you look at his overall average last season, he was much better than that. There was absolutely no doubt he was coming back again to Scunthorpe next season.

“Last season was one of those seasons where everything went wrong for us, and Wilko was one of our rocks. The supporters recognised that by voting him as their Rider Of The Year.

“We’ve planned the team for next season so that we have one strong reserve all the time.

“To begin with, it’s Wilko, but he’s not going to stay there the whole year. Once he moves up it could be Taylor or Zdenek or Alex.

“Whoever ends up down there is going to be a trump card.”

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 2016 (with starting average):
Josh Auty (8.00)
Zdenek Holub (7.00)
Ryan Douglas (6.68)
Alex Davies (6.26)
Taylor Poole (6.05)
Carl Wilkinson (5.33)
To be announced (3.00)