He has been described as a 'bit of a gamble' by Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey, but Tom Armstrong is prepared to go to any lengths to ensure it is one which pays off.

Arriving in a new country for his first season of British speedway, the Australian is eager to make a good impression with the Scorpions.

He accepts that will take time, but is confident he can quickly get the measure of the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Armstrong joins Scunthorpe having won a number of dirt track titles in his homeland and America, as well as having tried his luck at several stadiums on this side of the world.

He came third in the Top Gun individual event at Sheffield last year and is looking to play a significant part in improving his team's away form.

"Scunthorpe will get a very determined rider out of me," the 22-year-old told the Telegraph.

"I know what it takes to become a good rider and I'm willing to try anything different to my riding style or bikes to make me more suited to the Scunny track.

"England is a lot different to Australia but I'm so excited to get over there and do some racing.

"Racing bikes for a living is what I've wanted to do my whole life since I started racing speedway when I was 10 years old, so moving to England is great.

"I feel the Scunthorpe track suits me as it's wide and fast, and that's how I like to ride because the tracks here in Australia are big and fast.

"Having raced dirt track for so long in my racing career a track like Scunny is great.

"I rode a lot of the Premier League tracks this year and I think I'll be fine adapting to the tracks.

"I'm hoping to achieve a good solid year, scoring good points away and scoring big points at home.

"It's my first season so achieving anything that I have not done before will be great."

Armstrong had been on the Scorpions' radar for some time and impressed again while taking a practice spin round the Normanby Road track earlier this year.

He will be part of a much-changed line-up in 2012, with Josh Auty and Ashley Birks also joining the ranks in an attempt to finally capture the Premier League title.

Having seen his own personal dream come true, Armstrong now wants the same for his team-mates.

"I came over to England to look for a Premier League spot for 2012 and came to Scunthorpe with Todd Kurtz to mechanic for him because he rides for Newport Wasps," he explained.

"After the meeting I went out and had a practice on the track and put some hard laps in.

"I really enjoyed it and had an offer from the Scunthorpe team.

"I sort of know Josh Auty and Ashley Birks, but not really.

"But I'm sure I will get to know the team very quickly.

"I can't thank the Scunthorpe management enough, they have been great and helped me out in anyway they can.

"It's great to have a team that helps me out like that.

"The team looks great. I think we will have a good chance of wining the Premier League trophy with our team line-up.

"I can't wait to get over and meet everyone and start my dream job as a speedway rider."

Scunthorpe promoter Godfrey believes that dream job could eventually yield some dream results.

Although he admits it is difficult to predict how Armstrong will fare in his first season, he feels the long-term benefits outweigh any risk.

"Tom came over last year and really did impress us but we couldn't offer him anything," Godfrey said.

"He went to Sheffield and looked pretty good in the Top Gun meeting. He came across this year but his chances of showing anyone what he could do were limited again.

"We'd already made our mind up to offer him something based on last year.

"We invited him to our track and he showed us what he can do. He was very impressive, as he was the year before.

"Everywhere else he went to was rained off so he never got to show anyone else and went under everyone else's radar.

"His strengths are his equipment. He's got some great equipment which could rival a world champion.

"He's very versatile on the bike and can ride the dirt line, which is what we need at Scunthorpe.

"He looks the complete package and deserves a go.

"I genuinely believe we're on to a winner."