Stefan looking to prove a point with Scorpions

NEW signing Stefan Nielsen reckons that Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions can ‘push on’ and enjoy a successful rest of the season.

British racer Nielsen, aged 22, made his seasonal debut for Scorpions on Sunday, scoring a superb 10+2 in the 56-34 victory over Berwick Bandits.

The double British Under-19 Champion was unbeaten in the rides that he completed, and was only denied a maximum by machinery problems early in the meeting.

In the latter stages, Nielsen was flying, beating both Nick Morris and Kevin Doolan from behind, with some sensational speedway.

He says: “The meeting went OK in the end. I felt I was riding well once we got the bike going.

“It was just a case of sorting out my issues. I changed at least five things on the bike during the meeting.

“After the meeting, I had to go out again and change one thing back at a time, to find out exactly what it was, in case that ever happens again.”

Nielsen, who has a British mother and Danish father, raced for Plymouth and Swindon in 2016. But he was left without a club for the opening month of the season, and is keen to make up for lost time.

He excelled in some open meeting bookings, breaking the Isle Of Wight track record on his way to winning an individual meeting, and scoring well in challenge matches for homeless Coventry Bees.

“I was training really hard in the winter, so it was really tough mentally not to get a phone call from a club”, he reveals.

“I got myself into top shape. I spoke to a dietician and I lost nearly two stone.

“I felt good and was already to go as soon as I got a phone call, but one never came, and that was hard.

“I came over (from Denmark) and had the odd meeting, at the Isle Of Wight or riding for Coventry, and those went really well.”

Nielsen started his British career with Scunthorpe Saints in 2011, and won the third-tier National League with the club.

“I’m glad that I can now show what I can do”, he says. “I’m grateful that Scunthorpe have come in for me and given me the opportunity.

“Of course, it’s the second time Scunthorpe have given me an opportunity, because they were the first club that I ever rode for. They gave me a chance after a David Howe training school around 2010 or 2011, and I rode for their National League side.

“I’m happy to now have a team spot and be able to show what I can do. I’ve told everyone how well I could go if someone gave me a team place, and now I’ve got one, I need to prove that.

“I guess being left out for the opening month has given me a little extra motivation.”

Nielsen adds considerable strength to Scorpions, who now have a solid look all the way down to the reserve spot, which he currently occupies, although it seems only a matter of time before he moves up into the top five.

“It’s a good, solid team”, he states. “I’m looking forward to gelling with the rest of the boys. I realise that Scunthorpe have struggled a bit at the start of the year, but I think we’ve now got a team which can go out and get results.

“We can push on now and see how far we can go. We can get up there. It won’t be easy, but we’ll give it a go.”

Scorpions are next in action at Ipswich a week on Thursday (May 11). The next meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway is on Sunday, May 14 (5.30pm), when local rivals Sheffield Tigers are the visitors.

* FOUR Scorpions are in action in the British Semi-Final at Sheffield on Thursday night (May 4). Josh Auty, Lewis Kerr, Stefan Nielsen and Carl Wilkinson are all chasing a top eight spot and a place in the British Final at Belle Vue (Manchester) in June.