LED by a full 15-point maximum by Dynamic Dane Michael Palm Toft, Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions booked their place in the end-of-season Cab Direct Championship play-offs – which will determine the league champions – with a resounding 61-29 over the Edinburgh Monarchs at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

Not only did the result book Scunthorpe’s place in the play-offs, but – also allied to Glasgow emerging from a meeting at Redcar with no league points last night – it means that Scorpions can secure second place in the final table if they take the aggregate bonus point at Glasgow next Friday in Scorpions’ final regular Cab Direct Championship fixture (September 4). Scorpions have a 49-41 advantage, after defeating Glasgow at the Eddie Wright Raceway in May.

Now sitting second, Scunthorpe would secure at least third place in the final table – and avoid table-topping Poole Pirates in the semi-finals – if Edinburgh fail to win at Berwick tonight (Saturday).

Scorpions put in a no-nonsense performance against Monarchs. They thrust into a 14-4 lead after three races and had won the meeting with four races to go, when the scoreline was 44-22. They also secured the bonus point, having drawn 45-45 at Armadale in June.

Michael Palm Toft has recently sorted out the machinery problems that have dogged him for the majority of the season. He followed up on his 12 points the previous week against Workington with a full house against Monarchs.

He was partnered by Jordan Jenkins, the guest for recent Scunthorpe signing Jacob Hook – who sadly suffered a broken collarbone in a training accident. Jenkins scored a fantastic 9+3 paid maximum – only his second-ever at this level and his first-ever in a Cab Direct Championship league match.

Skipper Josh Pickering scored 13+1, dropping his only point in Heat 13, when he was squeezed out on the first bend, but flew from fourth to second and was only a hair’s breadth from overtaking Dan Thompson on the line. Pickering allowed Palm Toft through at the end of Heat 15 to enable the Dane to pick up a full maximum, after Palm Toft had fended off a challenge from Thompson for second place for Scorpions’ seventh 5-1 on the night.

Scunthorpe provided 12 race winners on the night, and all seven Scorpions picked up a win or a paid win.

As usual, the race was top-notch at the Eddie Wright Raceway. A highlight was Heat 8, where Connor Mountain moved from last to first around the outside in the early stages, before a battle commenced for the minor places, that resulted in Nathan Ablitt rounding Jordy Loftus for third at the chequered flag in a photo-finish for third place.

Maximum man Michael Palm Toft – the only man to win both a league championship (2012) and Knockout Cup (2023) with Scorpions at Cab Direct Championship level – said: “My form is down to a practice session we had ahead of the home meeting with Workington. I wouldn’t say the bikes are perfect, but they are now working.

“I knew my bikes weren’t working as they should. It can be difficult to pinpoint what’s what during a meeting itself and then I got into a really bad circle. I knew I hadn’t become a bad rider overnight and there something wrong with the bikes. I needed some time on track to work it all out and the practice session provided that.

“I also had a confidence boost with a good meeting against Workington last week, which I was able to take into tonight. I’m really happy to have things working again. Obviously, I didn’t expect to score as well as I have straight away and to score a maximum tonight is fantastic.

“It was a perfect night for the team and great to take such a large win against another team who will be in the play-offs. But we need to stay on the ball. Edinburgh didn’t put up the best display tonight and we steamrolled them, but we can’t get overconfident. We need to take it with a grain of salt and realise the next meeting starts at 0-0 again.

“We’re a team of racers and we know we can do it. Anything can happen in the play-offs, but we’re prepared for that. We will give it our best.”

SCUNTHORPE 61: Michael Palm Toft 15, Josh Pickering 13+1, Jordan Jenkins 9+3, Connor Mountain 7+1, Luke Harrison 7+1, Ryan Ingram 6+2, Nathan Ablitt 4+1.

EDINBURGH 29: Dan Thompson 10, Kye Thomson 8, Jordy Loftus 4+1, Justin Sedgmen 3+1, Jonatan Grahn 2, Paco Castagna 2, Mitchell Cluff 0.

Scorpions win aggregate bonus point by 106-74

* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions travel to Glasgow for the final regular Cab Direct Championship fixture next Friday (September 4). The next meeting at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway will be a play-off semi-final – with both opponents and the date to be confirmed in due course. Please keep an eye on the club’s social media and the official website at https://www.scunthorpe-speedway.co.uk/