Scunthorpe Speedway

08.08.12: Scorpions aiming for six of the best at EWR

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are looking to maintain their 100% Premier League home record when they entertain second-placed Leicester Lions at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday night (7.30pm).

So far, the Scorpions have beaten Edinburgh (55-37), Ipswich (61-31), Newcastle (48-42), Berwick (48-42) and Workington (49-40) in league encounters around the Eddie Wright Raceway, and will be looking to make it six of the best on Friday.

Some good news is that Thomas Jørgensen is fully fit, despite the heavy fall which forced him to withdraw mid-meeting from last week’s encounter against the Workington Comets.

Team manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “Thomas was in quite a lot of pain on Friday after hurting his foot, shoulder and back, and we feared a break in his foot. Fortunately, the x-rays proved all clear and the pain soon subsided.

“For the second successive week, after months of being forced to use either guests or rider replacement, we start with a full seven-man team. I hope that this week we also complete Heat 15 with a full team.”

Friday will see a couple of tweaks to the Scorpions’ starting order.

Hollingsworth explained: “We have switched the reserves around, so that Michael Palm Toft (pictured) is at No. 6 and has an inside gate in Heat 2, whilst Gary Irving has an outside gate in that race as our No. 7.

“It makes more sense for them to be that way around in Heat 2, because of their riding styles. Last week, we conceded a 5-1 in Heat 2 with Gary on the inside and Michael on the outside, but then Gary & Michael took a very important 5-1 heat advantage in Heat 8, when they were the other way around.

“It was something we were already considering, and that convinced us that it was a sensible change to make. Heat 2 is a very important heat in proceedings – it can be a major boost if the reserves can off to a good start.

“We are also changing over Thomas (Jørgensen) and Ashley (Birks), because we feel it will give a better overall balance to the team. Thomas is now at No. 4 and Ash at No. 2.”

Leicester won a league encounter in wet conditions at the Eddie Wright Raceway in 2011.

Hollingsworth added: “Leicester’s current league position may be a little false because they only have two home meetings left, but they are still very strong candidates for a top six finish. The return of former Scorpion Magnus Karlsson is always eagerly anticipated, and we won’t be under-estimating the Lions.

“But both Nick Morris and Josh Auty were in great form last Friday, while it’s likely that David Howe will improve week-on-week as he rides himself back into full fitness.

“We have seven riders all capable of winning races at the Eddie Wright Raceway, and it’s that kind of all-round strength that makes us tough to beat around our home track”, Hollingsworth concluded.

NOTE REGARDING ADMISSION PRICES FOR SCUNTHORPE v LEICESTER FOR THOSE WITH A VALID SCUNTHORPE v GLASGOW RE-ADMISSION TICKET:

Admission prices on Friday for those with a valid re-admission ticket from the abandoned Scunthorpe v Glasgow meeting from July 20th will be as follows:

Adult: £6.00 (£8 deduction)
Student/OAP: £4.00 (£8 deduction)
Child (10 - 16): FREE (£5 deduction)
Family Ticket £15 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-16) (£18 deduction)

Teams for Friday (English unless stated):

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. David Howe, 2. Ashley Birks, 3. Nick Morris (Australia), 4. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 5. Josh Auty, 6. Michael Palm Toft (Denmark), 7. Gary Irving.

Leicester Lions (probable): 1. Kauko Nieminen (Finland), 3. R/R for Lasse Bjerre (Denmark), 3. Linus Eklof (Sweden), 4. Jari Makinen (Finland), 5. Magnus Karlsson (Sweden), 6. Jan Graversen (Denmark), 7. Lewis Blackbird.

Scorpions Info (as at 7 August 2012)

Josh Auty has now moved up to 5th place in the Club's all-time points scored list (1210 points up-to-date)

Leicester Lions at EWR

Ave Ave Best
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Lasse Bjerre PL 4 21 36 2 6.86 7.24 11 from 6 rides (2011)
Lewis Blackbird DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Linus Eklof PL 3 10 3 1 1.20 1.60 2 from 3 rides (2010)
Jan Graversen PL 17 72 79 20 4.39 5.50 11 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2010))
Magnus Karlsson PL 67 310 632 45 8.15 8.74 18 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2011))
Jari Makinen PL 1 4 3 0 3.00 3.00 3 from 4 rides (2012)
Kauko Nieminen PL 3 14 26 1 7.43 7.71 13 from 5 rides (2008)

Other Notes

Lasse Bjerre
2011 Danish Under-21 Champion
Member of Denmark's World Under-21 Team Cup Championship Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Ipswich's Premier League Fours Championship Winning Team in 2010.

Lewis Blackbird
Member of Mildenhall's National League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Mildenhall's National League Pairs Winning Duo in 2012.

Linus Eklof
Member of King's Lynn's Premier League Championship, Premier Trophy and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2009.
Started the season riding in the Elite League for Belle Vue.

Jan Graversen
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion.
Member of King's Lynn's Premier League Championship, Premier Trophy and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2009.

Magnus Karlsson
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion.
Member of Hull's Premier League Championship, KO Cup and Young Shield Winning Teams in 2004.
Member of Edinburgh's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2003.

Jari Makinen
2007 Finnish Under-21 Champion

Kauko Nieminen
Three times Finnish Champion (2009, 2010 and 2011)
Three times Finnish Under-21 Champion (1998, 1999 and 2000)
Member of Workington's Premier League Fours Championship Winning Teams in 2004 and 2008.
Member of Workington's Premier League Pairs Winning Team in 2008.
Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Lakeside for the 2012 Elite League Season.

Leicester Lions' 2012 Results

Fri 16th Mar CH A L Leicester 44 Scunthorpe 46
Sun 25th Mar CH H W Leicester 48 Scunthorpe 42
Sat 31st Mar LC H L Leicester 44 Ipswich 49
Fri 06th Apr LC A L Leicester 40 Ipswich 53
Sat 07th Apr LC H W Leicester 47 Rye House 43
Fri 20th Apr LC A L Leicester 43 Plymouth 47
Sat 21st Apr LC H L Leicester 44 Somerset 46
Fri 04th May LC A L Leicester 35 Somerset 58
Sat 05th May PL H W Leicester 50 Redcar 43
Sun 06th May PL A W Leicester 46 Glasgow 44
Sat 12th May PL H W Leicester 49 Scunthorpe 43
Sat 19th May LC A L Leicester 34 Rye House 58
Sun 20th May LC H W Leicester 47 Plymouth 46
Sat 26th May PL H W Leicester 50 Somerset 43
Fri 08th Jun PL A L Leicester 39 Plymouth 51
Sat 09th Jun PL H W Leicester 46 Newcastle 44
Sun 17th Jun PL A L Leicester 31 Newcastle 62
Sat 23rd Jun PL H W Leicester 53 Plymouth 43
Sat 30th Jun PL H W Leicester 51 Sheffield 39
Sat 14th Jul PL H W Leicester 53 Glasgow 39
Sat 21st Jul PL H W Leicester 47 Ipswich 43
Sun 22nd Jul KOC A L Leicester 36 Workington 54
Thu 26th Jul PL A L Leicester 37 Sheffield 58
Fri 27th Jul PL A L Leicester 39 Somerset 51
Sat 28th Jul PL H W Leicester 49 Berwick 45
Thu 02nd Aug PL A L Leicester 42 Ipswich 48
Sun 05th Aug PL H W Leicester 45 Edinburgh 44

Leicester Lions' Results at EWR

08 July 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 53 Leicester 40
16 September 2011 PL (Ph 2) W Scunthorpe 43 Leicester 50
16 March 2012 KSMT L Scunthorpe 46 Leicester 44