TWO IN FOR SCORPIONS

SCUNTHORPE have made a double team change with Max Clegg and Nathan Ablitt joining the club.

The Scorpions have brought in Clegg to replace Zaine Kennedy, who is unlikely to race this season due to injury, and the implications of the points limit means they have parted company with Joe Thompson, with Ablitt coming in after spending last year with Poole.

Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It really broke my heart to release Joe, because the lad didn’t deserve it at all. He’s put in a great stint for us, and under usual circumstances, we wouldn’t have replaced him, because he was performing up to expectations.

“But the 28-day-facility for Zaine Kennedy started on Good Friday, which means it expired on Thursday and is not valid on Friday. We had to make a signing, or we would have been left without a facility and been forced to use riders well below Zaine’s average.

“If there was a like-for-like signing, so we could have replaced Zaine and kept Joe, we would have done it, but there simply wasn’t a rider on the right average who wanted to do it. On the other hand, there are riders available around the 5.50 mark, so it became a case of choosing the best one, and then putting in a two-point rider in for Joe.

“Max will slot in at No.3 and push Connor Mountain down to reserve. I think Connor will be down there for at least a month or two and he’ll be a real trump card. It’s how we originally designed the team when we had Zaine.

“Nathan is a talented young British rider, he contributed to Poole’s success last season, and we know he will come in and score points.”