SCORPIONS BACK IN ACTION AT THE EDDIE WRIGHT RACEWAY
ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions return to action at home for the first time in six weeks when they host the Plymouth Gladiators in the Cab Direct Championship at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway tomorrow evening (Friday, July 3) at 7.30pm.
It’s the first of four successive Fridays that Scorpions are due to ride at home during July.
While Scunthorpe have had a break in home fixtures, they have still been busy away from home and involved in four away fixtures. Scorpions picked up the aggregate bonus point at Berwick, and have also put themselves in an excellent position to pick up several other aggregate points, winning at Redcar (48-42), drawing at Edinburgh (45-45) and losing narrowly at Workington (44-46).
There is also an aggregate bonus point up for grabs against Plymouth, since Scorpions were edged out 41-49 down in South Devon on May 16.
Scunthorpe are currently third in the Cab Direct Championship table, having ridden five times away but only twice at the EWR. In their last home fixture on May 22, Scorpions defeated Glasgow by 49-41.
Dan Gilkes is set to make his return from injury for Scunthorpe, after crashing out at Redcar on May 29. He rode in a four team tournament at Workington last Saturday and scored eight points, including two race wins. Gilkes fits back in at No 3 for Scorpions, while the in-form Nathan Ablitt stays at reserve.
Scorpions are due to track a due a full-side against Plymouth, while Gladiators are arguably strengthened by Tate Zischke coming in as a guest for the injured Ben Barker.
It’s a highly-looking attractive fixture, with the Plymouth side headed by seven-time British Champion Scott Nicholls and 2016 British Champion Danny King.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “Our away results have given us excellent opportunities to add to our tally of aggregate bonus points in the coming weeks and that will be crucial in the battle for a play-off place.
“It’s important to get three points on the board against Plymouth to carry on the good work. We only lost by eight at Plymouth, so we need to hit 50 points. If everyone is on form, that will hopefully be an achievable target.
“Plymouth have been having a good season and are through to the MAXiCab Knockout Cup Final, so we congratulate them on that fine achievement. They certainly won’t be pushovers, that’s for sure, and have brought in Workington’s Tate Zischke as cover for the injured Ben Barker. Tate had a good meeting here for Workington earlier in the season, so we need to be wary of the Gladiators.
“It’s a ‘must-win and get the aggregate bonus’, like they all are now. We are in a good spot thanks to those excellent away performances but we must approach every home meeting with that ‘must-win’ mindset to make sure we don’t muck things up and undo all the good work on our travels.”
Accompanied children are FREE for the meeting, while there will also be a kids race during the evening.
For those who cannot make it to the Eddie Wright Raceway, Scorpions are live streaming the meeting for just £13.99 at: https://tv.scunthorpe-speedway.co.uk/
ADMISSION PRICES FOR TOMORROW (FRIDAY):
Adult: £20
Student/OAP: £18
Child (0 – 16): Free (must be accompanied by paying adult)
Programme: £1.50
Car Parking free
Pay on the day at the turnstiles by cash or card.
Expected teams for tomorrow (Friday):
Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Pickering (C), 2. Connor Mountain, 3. Dan Gilkes, 4. Luke Harrison, 5. Michael Palm Toft, 6. Ryan Ingram, 7. Nathan Ablitt.
Plymouth Gladiators: 1. Danny King, 2. Joe Thompson, 3. Daniel Klima, 4. Tate Zischke (guest), 5. Scott Nicholls, 6. Anze Grmek, 7. Ben Whalley.
PHOTO BY IAN RISPIN
