Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Ipswich Witches preview

WITH the advent of a new month, Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions will reshuffle their pack for the visit of the Ipswich Witches to the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday early evening (6.30pm).

The issue of the July Green Sheet averages sees Australian Ryan Douglas (pictured) move to the No 1 spot, while skipper Josh Auty moves down to cover the tough No 5 position.

Another change sees Carl Wilkinson move up into the main body of the team, while Michael Palm Toft will switch to the reserve berth, alongside Josh Bailey.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “I’m sure Ryan will grab the opportunity of riding at No 1 for the first time with both hands and take it in his stride.

“In the meantime, Josh won’t mind too much that his first outing is in Heat 4, because if he needs to come from behind in that one, the track will be developing nicely after a few races.

“We all know what a trump card that Michael Palm Toft can be at reserve. He was in that position for the latter part of 2012, and scored a paid 21-maximum in a play-off match, as we marched to the Premier League championship. He was riding at No 6 then and he’s riding at No 6 now.

“Carl Wilkinson moves up, but it was when he was at No 2 a couple of months ago that he scored paid 15 at Scunthorpe and 14 at Berwick, so we know riding at No 2 won’t stop Wilko from scoring points.

“Overall, I think the way we can line up now gives us a much better balance.”

Scorpions’ new Green Sheet averages:
Ryan Douglas 6.81
Josh Auty 6.71
Lewis Kerr 6.28
Alex Davies 6.03
Carl Wilkinson 5.31
Michael Palm Toft 5.20
Josh Bailey 3.00

Scunthorpe and Ipswich met twice at the very start of the season in the League Cup, with Scorpions winning 48-41 at Foxhall Heath, followed by a 45-45 draw at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

At that point, Lewis Kerr was riding for the Witches, scoring 11 points in the meeting at Scunthorpe.

In a recent reshuffle, Ipswich signed Ben Barker (who had been released by Glasgow) in place of Kerr, with Kerr, in turn, signed by the Scorpions to replace the departed Andreas Lyager.

“We’ve not been having the best season so far, but neither have Ipswich”, states Godfrey.

“I’m sure both clubs will be after turning around their form, and will want to win on Sunday.

“A confidence-boosting win for us couldn’t be more timely, because starting at Redcar next Thursday, we are involved in four meetings in less than a week.”

There are 24 heats of action in total on Sunday. A nine-race second half includes a six-heat Midland Development League match between Scunthorpe and Belle Vue, while Ryan Douglas, Alex Davies and Michael Palm Toft will be amongst those riders taking part in three races on the innovative Formula Two speedway bikes, the brainchild of former rider Pete Seaton.

Admission prices for Sunday:

Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00

Expected teams for Sunday:

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Carl Wilkinson, 3. Alex Davies, 4. Lewis Kerr, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Michael Palm Toft, 7. Josh Bailey.

Ipswich Witches: 1. Danny King, 2. James Sarjeant, 3. Nico Covatti, 4. Morten Risager, 5. Ben Barker, 6. Joe Jacobs, 7. Oliver Greenwood.

Midland Development League teams:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. George Rothery, 2. Luke Whitehead, 3. Chris Hoy, 4. Sam Chapman.
Belle Vue Colts: 1. Joe Lawlor, 2. Sam Woolley, 3. Andy Mellish, 4. TBA.

Ipswich Witches at EWR

Other Notes

Ben Barker
Has ridden in 3 Speedway World Cup Events.
Member of Oxford’s Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2005.
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Stoke’s Conference League Four Team Championship Winning Team in 2006.
Member of Coventry’s Craven Shield Winning Team in 2008.

Nicolas Covatti
Twice Argentinean Open Champion (2008 and 2013)
2013 Italian Champion
Has ridden in 2 Grand Prixs and 5 World Cup meetings.

Oliver Greenwood
2014 British Under-19 Champion.
Ex Scunthorpe Saint who the named number 8 when the Saints won the 2011 National League Championship.
Rode as a Guest for Somerset’s Premier League Winning Team in the 2nd Leg of the 2013 Play-off Final.
Also riding in 2016 for Buxton in the National League.

Joe Jacobs
Member of Mildenhall’s National League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Mildenhall’s NL Championship, Fours, KO Cup and National Trophy Winning Team in 2012.
A Fast-Track Reserve with Belle Vue for the 2016 Elite League season.
Also riding in 2016 for Isle of Wight in the National League.

Daniel King
2016 British Champion.
2004 British Under-18 Champion.
Has ridden in 8 Speedway World Cup Events.
Member of Peterborough’s Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2002.
Member of Mildenhall’s KO Cup Winning Team in 2003.
Member of Rye House’s Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2005.
Member of Peterborough’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2007.
Member of Ipswich’s Premier League Pairs Winning duo in 2015.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Coventry for the 2016 Elite League season.

Morten Risager
Has ridden in 1 Speedway Grand Prix meeting.
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Championship Winning Teams in 2005 and 2007.
Member of Coventry’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2006.
Member of Ipswich’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2011.

James Sarjeant
Twice New Zealand Champion (2014 and 2015)
A Fast-Track Reserve with Coventry for the 2016 Elite League season.

Ipswich Witches’ Record at EWR

Meetings Ridden: 9

Won: 1
Drawn: 2
Lost: 6

Biggest Win: 47 – 43 (17 July 2015)
Heaviest Defeat: 61 – 31 (26 June 2012)

Last Visit: 45 – 45 (D – 20 March 2016)