The Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions defeated the Newcastle Diamonds 56-36 at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday night and leading the way was former Diamond’s asset Byron Bekker. 

The South African rode for Newcastle’s Conference League Gems side in 2004 before joining the Scorpions the following year.  Last winter the Scorpions purchased him and last night the 20-year old showed the North East club exactly what they had let go.

Bekker’s maximum was the very first by a Scorpions’ rider at Premier League level and his ‘paid twelve’ haul made him only the fourth ever Scunthorpe rider (behind Nicky Allott, Kevin Teager and Phil White) to reach one thousand points for the club.  Topping the Scorpions scoring was Magnus Karlsson who scored thirteen points from his five rides whilst for the visitors their guest rider, Tomas Topinka, was in exceptional form, registering exactly half the Diamonds’ thirty-six point tally.  

Speaking after the match Bekker couldn’t contain his glee at registering a Premier League maximum “After my second race I thought I stood a chance (of a maximum).  Then I went out in heat eight and got a paid win and in heat twelve I was determined to do it.  I made a good start but they just kind of got me in the first turn and I was at the back.  I couldn’t stand it.  I needed to up in second and I managed it.  I was really happy”.

Whilst Bekker’s performance was quite sensational the whole team put up and excellent team.  Karlsson and Carl Wilkinson just dropped points against Topinka whilst both Richard Hall and Andrew Moore were able to prevent Newcastle’s guest rider from claiming his own maximum.  With Viktor Bergström and Benji Compton also making decent contributions the club were never in danger and they can head north on their mini-tour of Workington and Glasgow brimming with confidence.

The Scorpions are in Workington tonight ( Saturday 17 May, start time 7pm) and carry on to Glasgow on Sunday afternoon (4pm).  The next action at the Eddie Wright Raceway sees Edinburgh Monarchs visit on Bank Holiday Monday.  The meeting will see the return of former Scorpion Andrew Tully whilst the meeting is a double-header with the Buxton Hitmen set to face the Scunthorpe Saints in a Conference League Knockout Cup meeting immediately after the Premier League meeting. 

Scunthorpe Scorpions 56
Andrew Moore 6+2 (4 rides), Carl Wilkinson 9 (4), Magnus Karlsson 13 (5), Benji Compton 4+2(4), Richard Hall 11 (5), Viktor Bergström 5 (4), Byron Bekker 8+4 (4)

Newcastle Diamonds 36
Tomas Topinka 18 (6 rides, including a 4 point tactical ride), Dan Giffard 1 (4), Jason King 8 (6), Christian Henry 4+1 (5), Jamie Robertson 0 (3), Sean Stoddart 5+1 (6)