Track record holder back at Eddie Wright Raceway

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS have signed Eddie Wright Raceway track record holder Nicolai Klindt – to start the 2016 season in place of the retired Taylor Poole.

It will be the 27-year-old Danish World Cup star’s third stint at the club – following spells in 2013 and 2014. It is likely to be a temporary arrangement, for the first few weeks of the season.

Rob Godfrey explains: “We got on the case, as soon as we learnt that Nicolai had signed for Leicester in the Elite League. We then also learnt that he was no longer going to be riding for Rye House in the Premier League – like Leicester, Rye House are a Saturday night track. So we contacted the relevant parties and set up the deal.

“Nicolai has agreed to start the season for us. He has Polish commitments, so it’s likely to be a temporary arrangement, as we are riding on Sundays this season. But for the first few weeks of the season, it’s not a problem.

“He’s helped us twice before, and now he’s helping us out again. He is a quality addition to the side, and he rode at No 1 for us for most of the season in 2014. His signing will allow us to get going as soon as the season starts.”

Godfrey also explains his thinking of how Scorpions’ season will move on from its initial phase.

“Zdenek Holub is on an assessed average, and will gain a proper average within the first month of the season”, he adds.

“We want Zdenek to go out there and score as many points as possible; but, realistically, his average will initially drop from 7.00. Once he’s got his new average, we will assess the situation, and make the decision of how we progress from there. We do have some idea of what we plan to do.”

Godfrey is now targeting success in the start-of-season League Cup.

“The initial message we received from Taylor Poole a few days ago was devastating, but we realised it created new opportunites. I wish the lad well in whichever direction his life now takes.

“It would have taken Taylor a little time to re-adjust after a year out of British Speedway. But now, with Nicolai, we can really hit the ground running at the start of the season. I would be delighted if we can make progress in the League Cup, because we don’t have a great record in that competition.

“We’ve taken action to replace Taylor as soon as possible, because we want our fans to know that we mean business in 2016”, Godfrey concludes.

REVISED SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 2016 (with starting average):
Josh Auty (8.00)
Zdenek Holub (7.00)
Ryan Douglas (6.68)
Alex Davies (6.26)
Nicolai Klindt (5.89)
Carl Wilkinson (5.33)
Josh Bailey (3.00)

PHOTO: 55.18 seconds!  Nicolai Klindt setting the current EWR track record in September 2014.