Scunthorpe Scorpions will launch their 2012 season, by taking on Premier League rivals Leicester Lions in the Kenny Smith Memorial at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday, March 16th.

Scorpions’ team manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “We always intended to start the 2012 season with Kenny’s meeting, after it was sadly rained off at the end of 2011. After careful consideration, we have decided that, this season, the meeting in honour of Kenny will feature the Scorpions in a team meeting, rather than opting for an individual meeting".

“Leicester Lions are an appropriate choice of opponent, with both Magnus Karlsson and Simon Lambert in their ranks, two riders who rode for Scunthorpe under Kenny’s management. We are also able to fit in the Blast from the Past veteran speedway riders who will compete in the fourth running of Third Bend Smithy Cup in Kenny's honour”

Kenny Smith passed away in 2009, after a brave battle against throat cancer. He was both co-promoter and team manager of the Scorpions. Just two days before he was passed away, he was taken around the Scunthorpe track on the back of David Howe’s bike for two emotional laps of honour.

Kenny’s grandfather was one of the pioneer riders in the sport’s early days back in the 1920s. Kenny began his own racing career in grasstrack, before taking up speedway in the late sixties at Doncaster.

However, he is best remembered for his involvement on the other side of the speedway fence. After being involved at Middlesbrough, he switched to Newcastle when the Teesside club’s Cleveland Park track closed. Newcastle boss George English, soon made him Assistant Team Manager and Kenny took responsibility for the Newcastle Gems when they entered a side in the Conference League.

With speedway returned to Scunthorpe to 2005 after a twenty-year absence, Kenny offered his services, as the Gems had withdrawn from the Conference League following the 2004 season. He was taken on board as Scorpions’ team manager, and was delighted when the Scorpions carried all before then to sweep to successive Conference League titles in 2006 and 2007.

Kenny’s unswerving passion for the sport and the Scunthorpe club were rewarded in 2007 when he became a co-promoter. He remained as team manager when the Scorpions were elevated to the Premier League in 2008.

The club could have never wished for a greater ambassador.

KENNY SMITH 1954-2009. A Scunthorpe Speedway legend.