Josh Auty back with Scorpions
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions have received a major boost with the news that the club’s all-time leading top scorer Josh Auty has reversed his decision to retire from speedway.
Auty’s decision to quit from speedway was announced last Sunday, hours before Scorpions used rider replacement for him at Newcastle. The Yorkshireman had been enduring a tough 2017 season, having scored double figures just twice in 12 outings.
However, given further time to reflect on his decision, the 26-year-old has decided to carry on with his career.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey broke the good news to the crowd to the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday, before the start of the Knockout Cup match before Scorpions and Peterborough Panthers, which was abandoned after five races after a heavy rain shower, with Scorpions leading 19-11.
Godfrey revealed: “Josh rang me and asked ‘Have you replaced me?’ I had spoken to Dimitri Berge, but we hadn’t agreed a deal.
“I think we’ll now see the old Josh Auty back. Our team manager Dave Peet has spoken a lot to Josh over the last few days and I’ve spoken to him as well, and I think we’ll see Josh back to his usual self from previous seasons.
“Josh has a period of inactivity – a ban in other words – for 14 days, which starts from the date of the Newcastle meeting last Sunday when we used rider replacement for him.
“He can’t return within that time, which means his first meeting back will be against Sheffield at the Eddie Wright Raceway next Sunday.
“Josh has also lost his place in the British Final, because he’d already been withdrawn from that competition. Ironically it’s Carl Wilkinson who will replace Josh at Belle Vue, since Wilko qualified as reserve from the Sheffield semi-final.
“I think Josh will now be more focused. He now realises what he’ll lose if he stops riding speedway, and therefore he wants it more than ever.”
Auty said: “I just needed to get through a period of four days and get my head straight. I needed some time to sit down and reflect on things.
“I do wish I’d simply asked for some time out instead of telling everyone that I was going to retire.
“I’ve lost the British Final which meant a lot to me. But the rider I’ll be cheering on in that meeting will be Carl Wilkinson.
“It was a rash decision, but we all say things we don’t mean. I just want to forget about the last week and move forward. I’m looking forward to coming back next week against Sheffield and scoring some points.”
To clarify, Scorpions were granted a 28-day facility to find another rider for Auty.
But his actual ban was not for 28 days, but rather for 14 days, starting from the date where Scorpions first used a facility for him.
* HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions were leading 19-11 in the Knockout Cup against the Peterborough Panthers at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday (Sunday) when the heavens opened, with a prolonged heavy shower. Both Michael Palm Toft and Lewis Kerr had defeated three-time British Champion Chris Harris.
The track staff did a fantastic job over the next hour to transform the circuit, but referee Peter Clarke, after consulting with the two team captains, took the decision to abandon the meeting.
We will announce the readmission policy from this meeting in the next couple of days.
SCUNTHORPE 19: Lewis Kerr 6, Tero Aarnio 6, Michael Palm Toft 3, Ryan Douglas 2, Carl Wilkinson 1, Nathan Greaves 1, Josh Auty r/r.
PETERBOROUGH 11: Chris Harris 4, Paul Starke 2, Simon Lambert 2, Tom Bacon 2, Kyle Newman 1+1, Ulrich Ostergaard 0, Jack Holder r/r.
