Visitors ring the changes

Visitors Scunthorpe have rung the changes before their visit to Shielfield on Saturday night.

Former Edinburgh and Newcastle man Max Clegg and 2022 double winner with Poole Nathan Ablitt replace Joe Thompson and the injured Zaine Kennedy in the redeclared Scorpions line-up for Berwick’s first Cab Direct Championship outing of 2023.

It will mean a busy night for Ablitt who is also racing in the second part of the double header for Kent Royals.

Berwick report a clean bill of health across the board with Jonas Knudsen reporting no after-effects from his Danish League meeting on Wednesday, the first time he had been back on a bike following his crash at Glasgow.

Skipper Leon Flint has been busy this week, appearances for Wolverhampton on Monday and Thursday book-ending a week which also included a Polish U24 outing for Ostrow and a guest appearance for Oxford against Redcar.

Berwick promoter and FTS Bandits, powered by Keenwood Karpets team manager Gary Flint said: “Scunthorpe’s original facility to cover for Kennedy expired on Friday and they have moved to make changes.

“Max in particular is no stranger to Shielfield Park and the switch allows them to move Connor Mountain to the number seven berth.

“There are no easy meetings in the Championship in 2023 and we need to be on our game from heat one on Saturday.

“It’s good to have Jonas back. He has been one of our form riders in the early part of the season and we missed him against Redcar.”

Scunthorpe complete their Knockout Cup quarter-final against Birmingham at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday), holding a two point lead after the first leg, while the second part of Saturday’s 30-race event, Kent, are at Armadale where they face the Monarchs Academy.

Bullets captain Greg Blair said: “It’s a tough match to start the home season with but we are really looking forward to showing the Berwick public what we can do.

“Ben Morley, Nathan Ablitt and Tom Woolley all know their way around Shielfield.”

With so much action to pack in the first race will be at the tapes for 6.30 sharp.

Warm-up for the night by checking out our Total Access Xtra show via the club’s Facebook and Instagram channels and, if you missed it live on Wednesday night, Greg and Scott’s hour-long Radio Northumberland Total Access Drivetime show is available as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Music and most good podcast platforms

E-tickets for Saturday night cost £30 before midnight tonight, £32 cash or e-ticket on the day. All tickets sold before midnight will be put into a draw with one supporter having his or her money refunded. Under-16s are free when accompanied by an adult.

Bandits: Thomas Jorgensen, Jonas Knudsen, Leon Flint, Jye Etheridge, Rory Schlein, Greg Blair, Connor Coles

Scorpions: Ryan Douglas, Simon Lambert, Max Clegg, Jake Allen, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Ablitt, Connor Mountain

Bullets: Connor Coles, Archie Freeman r/r, Mason Watson, Danny Phillips, Greg Blair, Josh Embleton, Jamie Halder

Royals: Ben Morley, Rhys Naylor, Tom Woolley, Joe Alcock, Nathan Ablitt, Sam Woolley, Connor King.

Referee:  Jim McGregor

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