Scunthorpe Speedway

26.06.12: Scorpions sign Morris, Nielsen and Young

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions have pulled off a major coup by signing 18-year-old Australian-born Nick Morris for the rest of the season. And also joining the Scorpions in a doubling-up capacity are Stefan Nielsen and Tom Young.

Nick Morris (pictured being pushed by Tom Armstrong) was born in Canberra, Australia, but has British parentage. He has made rapid strides within the sport, winning league titles with National League Buxton (2010) and Premier League Glasgow (2011).

He started the 2012 British campaign riding solely for the Elite League Swindon, and has a current average in excess of 6.50 in the top flight. He joins the Scorpions on a bargain Premier League average of 6.94, and joins David Howe and Josh Auty in a powerhouse heat leader trio. Morris will continue riding for Elite League Swindon.

Both Stefan Nielsen and Tom Young are Scunthorpe club assets. Nielsen was a member of the 2011 National League championship-winning Scunthorpe Saints squad, while winter capture Young has made huge strides with the 2012 Saints.

The new signings mean that Tom Armstrong (already back in Australia) and Finn Tero Aarnio will be released from the Scorpions’ 1-7 which now reads:

David Howe
Josh Auty
Nick Morris
Thomas Jorgensen
Michael Palm Toft
Ashley Birks
Tom Young / Stefan Nielsen

Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Nick Morris is a massive signing for the Scorpions. We went into this season believing that this really could be our year, but we’ve had a rough time with injuries.

“But there’s no reason now why we shouldn’t storm into the Premier League play-offs, and then win the title. We’re now as strong as any other team in this league.

“I’d like to make it clear that Nick is still riding for Swindon in the Elite League as well as for the Scorpions in the Premier League. We’re hugely grateful to Gary Patchett and Alun Rossiter for their assistance in allowing us to sign Nick.

“I’d also like to thank the Glasgow promotion. Nick has aspirations to ride in Poland on Sundays, which would clash with Glasgow home meetings, otherwise he would have probably been going back to ride for the Tigers.

“There’s always a price to pay when team changes are made, and in this case, it’s having to take Tero Aarnio out of the team. We invested money to buy Tero as our asset over the winter, and he’s a rider who has always given 100%.

“He’s still not quite fully fit with his hand at the moment, although it won’t be too long before he is. I hope he soon finds another team place.

“It was a hard decision to take Tero out, but one we had to make”, Godfrey concluded.

Team manager Richard Hollingsworth reflected on the changes to the side.

“I think Nick Morris, Scunthorpe and Swindon will all benefit from Nick riding for the Scorpions”, he said.

“Like all speedway riders, Nick has been hit by the number of rain-offs this season. This allows him to have regular action riding for two clubs.

“We benefit from bringing in a rider who will score freely in the Premier League. In effect, we now have three No 1s in David (Howe), and Josh (Auty) and Nick, plus a further heat leader in Thomas (Jorgensen).

“And Swindon will have a rider whose confidence will be boosted by his Premier League returns.

“It’s also great to see Stefan Nielsen and Tom Young in the team in a doubling-up capacity; both fully deserve this chance.

“It will be quite a fluid doubling-up arrangement and we won’t prevent them from fulfilling their National League commitments. But there will be opportunities for them both at Premier League level over the forthcoming weeks.”

Morris will make his debut for the Scorpions on Friday night at Somerset. Both Young and Nielsen are riding in the Scunthorpe Saints v Mildenhall National League fixture, so Ashley Morris will guest for the Scorpions.