Scorpions swoop for super Stefan

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions have swooped to sign young British star Stefan Nielsen in place of injured Austrian Fritz Wallner, subject to BSPA approval.

Scorpions will have new averages in place for this Sunday’s SGB Championship clash with Berwick, when 22-year-old Nielsen is due to make his debut.

Nielsen began his British career with Scunthorpe Saints in 2011, and won the National League championship with the club that season.

The highly talented rider won the British Under-19 Championship in both 2012 and 2013. The Swindon asset has a British mother and a Danish father.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “Stefan will be an excellent signing – I have no doubts about that. He was our No 1 target to replace Fritz.

“He will initially slot in at No 6. He’s capable of scoring good points, both in that position and also in top five, because at some stage during the remainder of the season, Stefan will move up and push another very good rider down to reserve.  We have that strength for the rest of the year.

“I’m sure our fans will remember his guest booking for Scorpions at the Eddie Wright Raceway last season, when he scored a hatful for us (12+1 against Sheffield).

“To be honest, it was a bit of a travesty that he hasn’t had a British team this season until now. He’s young, he’s British and he’s far too good a rider not to have a place in the league.

“I’d already committed to bringing back the same seven riders, when I realised he would be available, otherwise he could well have been in my starting line-up for this season.

“Of course, Stefan is coming full circle, since he was part of the Scunthorpe Saints team that so memorably won the National League in 2011.

“My thanks go to Rosco (Swindon promoter Alun Rossiter), for his co-operation to sign Stefan on loan from the Robins for the rest of the season.

“As always, it’s subject to BSPA approval, but we feel comfortable to announce this signing.”

Godfrey is keen to stress that Fritz Wallner, currently out for at least another six weeks with a broken hand, still features in the long-term plans of the club.

He says: “I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Fritz in a Scunthorpe race-jacket. But we simply couldn’t carry on using guests at No 6 until he was ready to return – it’s been hurting us and we’ve lost some meetings that we would have won.

“Our season is nowhere near over – we’re in a highly competitive league where everyone is taking points off each other, so anyone can get up there if they go on a bit of a run.

“I feel the team we now have is stronger than ever with Stefan Nielsen in it, and that we can kick on and enjoy a very successful remainder of the season.”