Scunthorpe Speedway

23.02.10: Worrall wins Saints' berth

The Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints have signed 18-year old former-Moto X rider Steven Worrall to fill one of their reserve berths. St. Helens born and bred Worrall, who had been racing Moto X since the age of seven, saw speedway on TV and decided to try the sport on the clubâ€™s mini-track last summer. After enjoying the experience he attended the practices at the Eddie Wright Raceway and progressed through the clubâ€™s amateur meetings towards the end of the season. In only his third meeting he mixed it with Plymouthâ€™s Paul Starke, fellow new-recruit to the Saints, Ashley Birks, and Mildenhallâ€™s Matt Bates in the Open Class â€˜Aâ€™ Final to highlight how far he had progressed in a short space of time.

Saints Team Manager Malcolm Vasey confirmed he was impressed with the youngster that day and believes there he can go can in the sport. â€œSteven certainly caught the eye in that meeting and he has also impressed when practicing. Like so many Moto X riders he is comfortable when tracks are a little tricky and his determination and approach have impressed me greatly. He has good family support, has acquired good equipment and looks after his fitness. All of this points to a high level of commitment and I am very pleased that he is coming to Scunthorpe".

â€œGiven his home town the Saints were the obvious choice for him and that could be an omen. Seriously, he is really keen to do well for Scunthorpe and sees it very much as being here for the long haul and hopes to eventually ride for the Premier League Scorpions. However, he only rode a speedway bike for the first time last year and is sensible enough to realise that he has a lot to learn in speedwayâ€.

â€œWe now have one place in the team and one squad place to fill and discussions are well advanced with a rider to complete the top five. I expect to be able to reveal his name shortly and I am sure that everyone in our squad next season can improve which is what the National Development League is about for us. I am very pleased with all of our riders and their approach and I am sure we will have a great team spirit."

Worrall will probably be racing in the 5th and 6th rounds of Winter Series at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Saturday 6th and Saturday 13th March (1-5pm) whilst he will make his debut for the Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints in the clubâ€™s first fixture of the season at Kingâ€™s Lynn on Saturday 3rd April. The Saints first home fixture will be on Easter Monday (Monday 5th April ï¿½ start time 6pm) whilst the clubâ€™s senior side, the Scorpions, will start their season a fortnight earlier on Friday 19th March (7.30pm start) when the clubâ€™s arch rivals, the Sheffield Tigers, will be at the Eddie Wright Raceway in Premier Trophy action.