Super Scorpions smash Comets into orbit

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 54 WORKINGTON COMETS 30 (PREMIER LEAGUE)

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions recorded a thumping 54-30 victory over the Workington Comets at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday evening (Sunday). The meeting was called off after 14 races due to heavy rain, but the result will stand.

Scorpions had to use rider replacement for in-form Lewis Kerr, who missed the meeting through illness.

And they were then reduced to five riders, after young reserve Josh Bailey crashed out of the meeting with a shoulder injury in Heat 4.

It meant fellow reserve Carl Wilkinson took his full quota of seven rides, while Scorpions were forced to go into Heat 12 with just one rider.

But it made no difference. Scorpions swept into a 24-12 lead after six races, and Workington’s chances of getting back in the meeting were dealt a major blow when tactical rider Kenneth Hansen finished last in Heat 7.

Scorpions were home-and-dry with several races to go, while Ryan Douglas and Josh Auty took a brilliant 5-1 from an enthralling Heat 13, despite both missing the start.

Comets’ Rasmus Jensen was excluded from Heat 15, after locking up in front of Fritz Wallner. However, before the re-run could take place, the heavens opened.

Auty scored a brilliant paid maximum (10+2), while Wilkinson ended up with a huge 15+1 haul from his seven riders. Douglas (12) and Michael Palm Toft (9+2) also enjoyed good evenings.

But maybe most satisfying of all was the terrific paid 10 (7+3) contribution from Austrian star Wallner, in just his second home meeting for the club.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I’ll be honest; I thought it was going to be a very tough match after Lewis Kerr had to withdraw through sickness. He’s been going really well recently and I thought that might hurt us.

“But I needn’t have worried, because our lads put in a terrific performance.

“We went a further rider down, after Josh Bailey withdrew after picking up a lump on his collarbone. Young Josh was putting everything into it, and caught the back of Matt Williamson in Heat 4. Matt was the innocent party and it wrecked the rest of his evening as well.

“I know the final scoreline makes it look like that Workington didn’t turn up, but that wasn’t the case at all. They fully played their part in a very good speedway meeting; it was just that our lads really rode well.

“There was some terrific racing out there. I seem to say every meeting that there was a race that was Race Of The Year. This week, it was Heat 13, where Ryan Douglas and Josh Auty came through from behind to take a 5-1. Josh was back to his brilliant best.

“Every one of the five remaining riders had a good one, Josh, Ryan, Michael, Wilko, but I guess the one who stands out is Fritz Wallner, in just his second meeting around the Eddie Wright Raceway.

“He looked so fast out there and looks the complete deal around Scunthorpe. He was actually unlucky to not score even more, because he produced a storming ride around the outside and was leading Heat 14, only for that race to be stopped, after Adam Roynon fell.

“It was a shame we couldn’t complete Heat 15. There were a few drops of rain around, and then after the race was stopped due to a crash, the heavens opened. It was the right decision to call if off, because the match was already decided.

“I’m chuffed with our performance in this meeting, and I think we can look ahead to the rest of the season with renewed optimism.”

HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 54
1. Josh Auty 3 2* 3 2* (10+2)
2. Michael Palm Toft 1 2* 3 2* 1 (9+2)
3. Lewis Kerr R/R
4. Fritz Wallner 2* 3 1* 1* (7+3)
5. Ryan Douglas 2 2 2 3 3 (12)
6. Carl Wilkinson 2 3 1* 3 1 3 2 (15+1)
7. Josh Bailey 1* FX (1+1)

WORKINGTON COMETS 30
1. Ricky Wells 2 R 2 1 (5)
2. Mason Campton 0 1 1 0 (2)
3. Kenneth Hansen R 0# R 1* (1+1)
4. Rasmus Jensen 1 3 2 3 (9)
5. Claus Vissing 3 1 3 0 (7)
6. Adam Roynon 3 R M 2 FX (5)
7. Matt Williamson 0 1 0 (1)

# = tactical ride

1: Auty, Wells, Palm Toft, Campton, 57.12 (4-2) (4-2).
2: Roynon, Wilkinson, Bailey, Williamson, 58.75 (3-3) (7-5).
3: Wilkinson, Wallner, Jensen, Hansen (ret), 58.60 (5-1) (12-6).
4: Vissing, Douglas, Williamson, Bailey (fell, excluded), awarded – no time (2-4) (14-10).
5: Wallner, Palm Toft, Campton, Wells (ret), 58.68 (5-1) (19-11).
6: Palm Toft, Auty, Vissing, Roynon (ret), 58.00 (5-1) (24-12).
7: Jensen, Douglas, Wilkinson, HANSEN (TR), 58.25 (3-3) (27-15).
8: Wilkinson, Palm Toft, Campton, Williamson, 59.69 (5-1) (32-16).
9: Vissing, Douglas, Wallner, Roynon (excluded, two minutes), 57.75 (3-3) (35-19).
10: (Re-run) Auty, Jensen, Palm Toft, Hansen (ret), 57.62 (4-2) (39-21).
11: Douglas, Wells, Wilkinson, Campton, 57.81 (4-2) (43-23).
12: Wilkinson, Roynon, Hansen (three riders only), 58.81 (3-3) (46-26).
13: Douglas, Auty, Wells, Vissing, 57.94 (5-1) (51-27).
14: (Re-run) Jensen, Wilkinson, Wallner, Roynon (fell, excluded), 58.06 (3-3) (54-30).
15: Not completed. Jensen excluded from first attempt to stage race.

PHOTO: The tapes jet from the tapes in what proved to be an epic Heat 13.  Maximum-man Josh Auty is nearest the camera.