ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions’ skipper Josh Pickering became the first-ever Scunthorpe rider to win a second-tier riders’ championship when he was triumphant in the Championship League Riders’ Championship at Sheffield last night (Saturday).
Scunthorpe first entered British League Division Two in 1972. Ray Watkins was first reserve in the Division Two Riders’ Championship that day. Now 54 years later, the North Lincolnshire club have finally provided the meeting winner.
Pickering – who also won the meeting in 2024 when he was representing Edinburgh – was unbeaten throughout the meeting at Sheffield, winning all six of his outings.
Following his 15-point-maximum in the 53-37 victory over Glasgow Tigers in the Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday, it means the Australian ace has won all 11 out of his races representing Scorpions this weekend.
Pickering did not gate in his opening race in Heat 4. But he worked his way into second place, before rounding Sam Masters in brilliant style on the final bend, to start his evening with a victory.
That was the only time Pickering looked close to defeat in the qualifying heats. He finished on a 15-point maximum, ahead of Masters on 14 points.
For the final, Pickering chose gate two, with Masters picking gate three, defending champion Chris Harris gate four and Zach Cook being left with the inside.
Pickering trapped, then headed wide on the second bend. Meanwhile, Harris cut inside him on the opening bends and took over at the front. But ‘Picko’ kept on the gas on the outside and surged back in front on the back straight.
The race wasn’t quite finished, as Harris went right to the fence to try to gain maximum speed. But that led to him brushing the fence and losing momentum.
There was no hiding Pickering’s delight, as he crossed the finishing line in front of Harris, Cook and Masters, and he then celebrated by a tyre burnout and donuts.
He was well supported not only by the Scunthorpe fans, but also the Sheffield supporters, since he rides for the Tigers in the top-flight Premership.
Pickering said: “What a night! This is an event that I look forward to riding in.
“We tried to read the track as much as we could. I had my mechanics Ryan (Neilson) and Luke (Crang) with me and also David Howe, my team manager from Scunthorpe. Between the four of us, we made the right decision with my bikes throughout the whole evening.
“Gate two was definitely the pick of the gates for the final. I knew Bomber (Chris Harris) was coming off gate four and I knew he was going to come at me. But he left me room to race – he’s a hard racer but he’s fair.
“Thanks to the Scunthorpe fans who travelled across to see me, and it was also very sweet to win the meeting in front of the Sheffield supporters, after the support I’ve received from them over the last five years.
“This is also for Rob and Gail (Godfrey, Scunthorpe promoters). They’ve been running Scunthorpe Speedway for almost 25 years and not won anything for a couple of years, so it’s great to win something for the club.”
QUALIFYING SCORES: Josh Pickering 15, Sam Masters 14, Peter Kildemand 12, Chris Harris 10, Luke Killeen 10, Zach Cook 10, Richard Lawson 9, Dan Thompson 7, Kye Thomson 7, Danny King 7, Jonas Jeppesen 6, Drew Kemp 5, Leon Flint 4, Jody Scott 2, Simon Lambert 2, Justin Sedgmen 0.
SEMI-FINAL: Harris, Cook, Kildemand, Killeen.
FINAL: Pickering, Harris, Cook, Masters.
* THE second leg of the Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final takes place at Glasgow on Friday, September 25, with the aggregate winners progressing to the final to face either Poole or Edinburgh. Scunthorpe lead 53-37 after the first leg. If Scorpions progress, the next and last home meeting of the season for the Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway will be the play-off Grand Final. Please keep an eye on the club’s social media and the official website at https://www.scunthorpe-speedway.co.uk/
PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN
