Scorpions looking to make impact in fours
HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS are looking to make an impact in the revamped Premier League Fours at Peterborough this weekend.
A 72-race extravaganza takes places over the course of Saturday and Sunday at the East Of England Showground, with 36 races scheduled for both days. There are three 12-heat semi-finals on Saturday (4pm), with a 20-heat individual event at Sunday lunchtime (12 noon) followed by a 16-heat final (4pm).
The Scorpions have been drawn in a Group Of Death, alongside Glasgow, Somerset and Workington, with only the winners progressing to Sunday’s final.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey insists: “It’s a very tough group, which would have been good enough to be the final.
“But we warmed up nicely with a 46-44 Premier League victory at Peterborough less than a fortnight ago.
“Michael Palm Toft was a Peterborough rider earlier in the year; he knows the place inside out, and he scored a hatful of points for us in the league match.
“Plus we’ve got three other riders in Josh (Auty), Ryan (Douglas) and Wilko (Carl Wilkinson) who like the track and can also score heavily there.
“Last week, Wilko rode at Peterborough just a day after a nasty accident at Newcastle. That was because he wanted to help us win the league meeting, but it was also because he wanted to get dialled into the track for the fours.
“We’re not going to Peterborough to make up the numbers. We’re looking to do some damage, get through to the final and then see what we can do.”
If the Scorpions fail to reach the final, then two of their riders will be involved in Sunday’s individual event.
Line-up:
SEMI-FINAL 1:
GLASGOW: Richard Lawson, Aaron Summers, Richie Worrall, Rene Bach.
WORKINGTON: Ricky Wells, Claus Vissing, Kenneth Hansen, Rasmus Jensen.
SOMERSET: Josh Grajczonek, Rohan Tungate, Charles Wright, Paul Starke.
SCUNTHORPE: Josh Auty, Ryan Douglas, Michael Palm Toft, Carl Wilkinson.
SEMI-FINAL 2:
SHEFFIELD: Simon Stead, Kyle Howarth, Dimitri Berge, Jason Garrity.
NEWCASTLE: Steve Worrall, Robert Lambert, Danny Phillips, Lewis Rose.
PLYMOUTH: Brady Kurtz, Todd Kurtz, Kyle Newman, Jack Holder.
REDCAR: David Bellego, Hugh Skidmore, Lasse Bjerre, Jonas B Andersen.
SEMI-FINAL 3:
EDINBURGH: Sam Masters, Kevin Wolbert, Ryan Fisher, Erik Riss.
IPSWICH: Danny King, Nico Covatti, Ben Barker, Morten Risager.
RYE HOUSE: Leigh Lanham, Cameron Heeps, Stuart Robson, Edward Kennett.
BERWICK: Kevin Doolan, Thomas Jorgensen, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers.
FINAL: Three semi-final winners, plus hosts Peterborough.
PETERBOROUGH: Craig Cook, Nikolaj B Jakobsen, Ulrich Ostergaard, Tom Perry.
Tickets are priced at £20 per day for adults, or £30 for a two-day pass. Rates for children aged 12-16 are £7.50 and £10 respectively. Children under the age of 12 gain free entry. Tickets can be bought through http://www.speedwaygb.co/plfours
PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS ITINERARY
FRIDAY, JULY 22
5pm to 9pm – East of England Showground gates open from 5pm to 9pm for the arrival of campers.
Camping fee is £10 per night, payable on the gate.
SATURDAY, JULY 23
9am – East of England Showground gates open.
11am – Inter-club supporters’ football tournament.
Noon to 1.30pm – Riders’ village with representatives from all competing clubs.
4pm – Premier League Fours semi-finals.
8pm to midnight – Evening entertainment (tickets £5 to be purchased on the day. Maximum capacity 600).
SUNDAY, JULY 24
9am – East of England Showground gates open.
Noon – Individual meeting featuring two riders from all teams who fail to qualify for the Premier League Fours final.
4pm – Premier League Fours final.
Also available: Fairground rides, speedway shopping market, junior motorcycle stunt team, vintage bike exhibition, British Speedway Under-16 Youth team display, Pop Idol’s Jamie Tinkler, Ex-rider ‘talk-in.’
* HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are also involved in Premier League action at Edinburgh tonight (Friday). With Alex Davies ruled out through injury and Lewis Kerr riding for his Elite League club Lakeside, Scorpions bring in ex-Edinburgh Monarch Matthew Wethers at No 2, while utilising rider replacement for Kerr at No 3.
Scorpions’ line up: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Mathew Wethers, 3. Rider replacement for Lewis Kerr, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Michael Palm Toft, 7. Josh Bailey.
