Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Workington Comets preview
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions host Workington Comets at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday evening (6.30pm), with promoter Rob Godfrey stating: “We’d like the same level of entertainment on show as in recent home meetings, but with the right result this time!”
Even by its own very high standards, the Eddie Wright Raceway has staged some epic speedway meetings in 2016.
Bolstered by the signings of Michael Palm Toft and Lewis Kerr in their middle order, Scorpions have proved much more competitive than earlier in the season. But recent results have been frustrating, with the agony of last-heat home defeats against Edinburgh (44-45) and Somerset (43-47). Scunthorpe’s last victory came away at Peterborough on July 12.
Godfrey says: “No-one has gone home from the Eddie Wright Raceway feeling short-changed in terms of the racing on display, because the action has been top-notch.
“But there’s such a massive difference in mood, between if you win a meeting or lose it. Wins bring smiles to the faces. We’ve been so close against Edinburgh and Somerset, without getting over the line.
“I’ve looked at our remaining four home meetings this season, and I honestly believe we can win them all. And if we do that, I think it will haul us off the bottom of the league. We’ve now got the really hard home meetings out of the way. That’s not to say that we will take any of the visiting four teams for granted – we’ve still got a job to do.”
Scorpions are due to be at full strength, despite being in the wars at Ipswich last Thursday.
Ryan Douglas withdrew from the meeting at Foxhall Heath after damaging his wrist in his opening outing, while Josh Bailey continued on the night with an ankle injury, but was subsequently ruled out of action last weekend.
Godfrey explains: “Josh would have normally withdrawn with the knock to his ankle.
“But with Ryan out, he knew that we would have been left short in some races if we lost a reserve too, so he bravely soldiered on and completed the meeting.
“We had fallers over all the place at Ipswich, because it was one of those nights, so it was a relief none of the knocks to our lads were that serious.”
Godfrey also believes that recent signing Austrian Fritz Wallner now has a real chance to kick on for the rest of the season.
“It’s never easy coming over to a new country halfway through the season but Fritz has shown a lot of promise”, says Godfrey. “The fan reaction to his home debut against Somerset was very positive.
“He had a fairly hectic spell of three meetings in five days for us at Scunthorpe, Somerset and Ipswich, during which he would have learnt a lot about British Speedway and the way that the tracks are prepared over here.
“He’s now had the chance to head back home, pick up some different equipment, and I believe he now has a real opportunity to make a name for himself in the closing weeks of the season.”
There are 24 heats of action in total on Sunday, with a nine-race second half consisting of a six-heat Midland Development League challenge match between Scunthorpe and Carmarthen, and the vintage bikes of yesteryear in three ‘Blast From The Past’ races.
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. Josh Auty, 2. Michael Palm Toft, 3. Rider replacement for Lewis Kerr, 4. Fritz Wallner, 5. Ryan Douglas, 6. Carl Wilkinson, 7. Josh Bailey.
Workington Comets: 1. Ricky Wells, 2. Mason Campton, 3. Kenneth Hansen, 4. Rasmus Jensen, 5. Claus Vissing, 6. Adam Roynon, 7. Matt Williamson.
Midland Development League teams:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Chris Hay, 2. Lloyd Ditchburn, 3. Sam Chapman, 4. James Chattin.
Carmarthen Dragons: 1. Connor Fletcher, 2. Lawrence Fielding, 3. Russell Barnett, 4. Danny Wright.
SUNDAY UPDATE: Lewis Kerr is ruled out this evening through illness. Scorpions will use rider replacement in his absence, with everyone except Josh Auty and Fritz Wallner able to take a ride.
