Scorpions’ place in history

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions will take their place in speedway history at Peterborough’s East Of England Showground tonight (Friday, 7.30pm) – when they are involved in the first official fixture of a brand new era.

This season, the top two leagues in British speedway have been rebranded the SGB (Speedway Great Britain) Premiership and SGB Championship.

Scunthorpe are one of ten teams in the SGB Championship, looking to gain promotion to the Premiership in 2018.

Scorpions track an unchanged side from the team who completed the 2016 season, showing their best form of the year.

Promoter Rob Godfrey says: “Having the same riders will give us an edge.

“Our riders don’t need to learn where each other ride – they already know. Plus it means we’ll be a team down the pits from the off.

“I think it’s going to be a great year of racing in the Championship.

“No one team stands out. Some teams have gone top heavy, but have weaknesses down at their bottom end.

“There are ten sides in the league, and you could make a case of why each of those ten teams could make the play-offs.”

Scorpions have been forced into one change tonight. No 7 Josh Bailey has only recently had the metalwork removed, following the collarbone injury that ruled him out of the conclusion of the 2016 season. Scott Campos replaces him.

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions’ line up for tonight: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Carl Wilkinson, 3. Lewis Kerr, 4. Michael Palm Toft, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Fritz Wallner, 7. Scott Campos.