Bumper Good Friday feast of action at Eddie Wright Raceway
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions are looking to extend their winning sequence, as they host the Newcastle Diamonds in League Cup action at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Good Friday (3pm).
The Scunthorpe Stags are also in National League action, against the Mildenhall Fen Tigers, making a total of 30 races in total.
The Scorpions have enjoyed a fabulous last few days, winning 53-41 at local rivals Sheffield last Thursday and then defeating reigning league champions Somerset Rebels by 46-44 at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday, in a classic encounter that went to the final bend.
“Now we’ve started winning, we want to keep it going”, said Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey.
“Our lads have now got going. Ryan Douglas is doing everything we hoped he would from reserve, his paid 17 against Somerset was terrific. Ashley Birks came out with huge rides in Heats 14 & 15; a true captain’s performance.
“Josh Auty was absolutely flying at Sheffield last week. We signed Josh as a full asset from Coventry during the weekend; I’m delighted by that.
“And David Howe is looking more-and-more like his old self every single week; he’s finally getting over the injuries that wrecked his last two seasons. David also had a fine meeting against Somerset.
“We haven’t given up on the League Cup yet. If we beat Newcastle on Friday and then go to their place on Sunday and also win that one, we could still qualify for the semi-finals. Normally Newcastle are impregnable on their own patch, but they’ve lost at home already in 2014.
“We won’t give up on the League Cup, until it’s mathematically impossible for us to get through.”
With so many teams in action on Good Friday, the Scorpions will use rider replacement for the injured Anders Mellgren, as no suitable guest is available.
On the subject of Mellgren, who suffered a suffered a fracture in his spine after a fall at Redcar, the rider has received a tremendous boost. Initially it was thought he would be out for the whole season, but it’s now possible he could be fit in around six weeks’ time.
“I thought Anders was out for the season”, admitted Godfrey.
“But his spine is screwed and plated, with rods inserted, and it’s going well. He’s already doing push-ups.
“It’s different to the injury that Ashley Birks suffered last year, because Ash had a lot of additional injuries as well. Anders escaped that, and it means that his recovery period is much shorter.
“But I don’t think it’s going to stop us making changes, once we get our new averages.
“Six weeks is a long time to use guests and rider replacement; guest riders are always something of a lottery.
“And that six-week time period may still be slightly optimistic; we don’t know. But it is tremendous news that Anders will be back. There will be a team place for him, once he’s fully fit and ready.”
The Scunthorpe promotion would like to thank Mildenhall for agreeing to ride against the Stags in Friday’s second meeting, the National League clash, despite being without heat-leaders Joe Jacobs, Josh Bates and Danny Halsey, with Darren Mallett and Liam Carr coming in as guests for the Fen Tigers.
Stags’ chairman Richard Hollingsworth explained: “The Scunthorpe vs Cradley Heath National League fixture was scheduled for Good Friday, but then allowed to be changed because Cradley had four riders who were unavailable.
“It looked like we were going to be left without a Stags’ home fixture on a key date, which would have been somewhat disastrous.
“After asking every club in the league to help us out, it was Mildenhall who came forward, despite it being a date when all their heat-leaders were unavailable.
“It is really very much appreciated. Our sincere thanks go out to Mildenhall promoters Chris Louis and Kevin Jolly.”
On the subject of Mildenhall, all speedway fans are being urged to sign the following petition to help save Mildenhall stadium: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/62894
Friday’s adult admission price for the double-header is £17. It’s just £2 more than a single Premier League meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway, for 15 extra heats of action.
The circuit rightfully has won the award, several times, for being the best racetrack in the Premier League, so a full and exciting day of racing is ahead.
Admission prices for Friday:
Adult: £17.00
Student/OAP: £15.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £39 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for Friday (English unless stated):
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Rider replacement for Anders Mellgren (Sweden), 2. David Howe, 3. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Ryan Douglas (Australia) (pictured – leading Nick Morris).
Newcastle Diamonds: 1. Ludvig Lindgren (Sweden), 2. Christian Henry (Australia), 3. Stuart Robson, 4. R/R for Lewis Kerr, 5. Anton Rosen (Sweden), 6. Chris Schramm, 7. Guest for Lewis Rose.
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Steve Jones, 2. Sam Chapman, 3. Danno Verge, 4. R/R for Arron Mogridge, 5. Adam Extance, 6. Liam Sanderson, 7. Ryan MacDonald (Scotland), 8. Michael Neale.
Mildenhall Fen Tigers: 1. Darren Mallett, 2. R/R for Josh Bates, 3. Jack Kingston, 4. Brendan Johnson, 5. Liam Carr, 6. Connor Mountain, 7. Connor Coles.
Newcastle Diamonds at EWR
Ave Ave Best
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Christian Henry PL 7 33 36 6 4.36 5.09 9 + 2 from 6 rides (2013)
Ludvig Lindgren PL 5 24 44 2 7.33 7.67 14 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2009))
Stuart Robson PL 6 30 57 4 7.60 8.13 14 + 1 from 6 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2013))
Anton Rosen DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Chris Schramm PL 11 43 43 4 4.00 4.37 14 from 5 rides (2009)
Other Notes
Christian Henry
Member of Glasgow’s Premier League Championship Winners in 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2013.
Ludvig Lindgren
Member of Wolverhampton’s Elite Shield Winning Teams in 2010 and 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Newcastle’s League Cup and Premier Shield Winning Teams in 2013.
Stuart Robson
Member of Coventry’s Craven Shield Winning Team in 2000.
Member of Rye House’s Premier League and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2005.
Member of Lakeside’s Elite League KO Cup Winning Team in 2009.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011 and 2013.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2012.
Anton Rosen
Swedish rider who made his British League debut with Newcastle in 2013.
Member of Newcastle’s League Cup Winning Team in 2013.
Chris Schramm
Member of Peterborough’s Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2002.
Member of King’s Lynn’s Premier League Championship, KO Cup and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2009.
Member of Workington’s Young Shield Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Newcastle’s League Cup Winning Team in 2013.
Newcastle’s Results at EWR:
04 April 2008 PT L Scunthorpe 55 Newcastle 38
16 May 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Newcastle 36
08 May 2009 KOC (1) L Scunthorpe 65 Newcastle 25
07 August 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Newcastle 45
14 May 2010 KOC (1) L Scunthorpe 49 Newcastle 41
23 July 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 52 Newcastle 39
01 April 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 47 Newcastle 42
30 March 2012 LC L Scunthorpe 46 Newcastle 44
13 July 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 48 Newcastle 42
12 April 2013 PS (1) L Scunthorpe 50 Newcastle 43
05 July 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 46 Newcastle 44
Scunthorpe Scorpions Team sponsors:
FluidAir Power Ltd:
http://www.fluidair-power.co.uk
