Saints sign three

Scunthorpe Speedway can confirm the Scunthorpe Saints first three signings for their 2010 National League campaign.

Gary Irving and Adam Wrathall will both be returning for their third season with the club whilst Scott Richardson will become only the fourth rider in the club’s history to represent the club in six separate seasons. With the eldest of the three just 21-years old, Team Manager Malcolm Vasey feels there is plenty of potential from the three returnees. “Gary and Adam have both raced less than thirty meetings so there is no doubt they have real potential whilst Scott has improved every year until last season when injuries helped spoil his campaign”.

“ Gary is a real crowd pleaser and after sitting out most of last season he is determined to make up for lost time and stake a claim for a Premier League space this season. He has already been given the number eight position with the Scorpions and 2010 could well be a defining year for him”.

“Adam is the youngest of the trio at just 18 but was out of the league for a season and a half after suffering life-threatening injuries in his first ever league ride for Oxford after turning 15. However, he has shown tremendous character to return to the sport and he averaged around six over the second-half of last season. His determination to succeed saw him spend time racing in Australia over the winter and I’m sure he will push his career forward this year”.

As mentioned Richardson will become only the fourth rider in Scunthorpe Speedway history to ride for the club in six different league seasons. Two other riders, Nicky Allott and Ray Watkins, have also ridden in six seasons whilst Rob Woffinden, who sadly passed away at the weekend, is the only rider to have featured in seven separate campaigns. Vasey added “Whilst Scott seems part of the furniture at the Eddie Wright Raceway it has to be remembered that he is still only 21 and wasn’t a permanent member of the club’s line-up during his first two seasons. He had a very promising 2008 where he averaged around seven but 2009 just didn’t go to plan for him. He suffered a nasty hand injury which prevented him riding in the opening meetings and at the end of the season broke his collarbone and ended up missing three matches at home. In between the injuries he wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders but I’m sure he can come back strong in 2010 and show us why he was given some Premier League outings two years ago”.

“The three riders are all fine young men and deserve to succeed. They are all easy to deal with and certainly have the right attitude. They provide us with an excellent backbone on which to build the Saints and I envisage adding two experienced riders for the top of the team and two inexperienced ones for the reserve positions. We have irons in the fire and I’m hopeful of being able to announce another rider within the next few days”.