Speedway back with the Keyline Scottish Open

NEWS Tuesday 16th March 2010, 11:28am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Speedway returns to Scotland this Friday as Armadale Stadium stages the Keyline Scottish Open, 16 Premier and Elite stars bidding to become the latest holders of the longest-running individual tournament in the sport.

Seven home men and nine visitors compete for the cash and the Jack Young Memorial Trophy, with just one former champion (Andre Compton) in the field. Home stars Ryan Fisher and Kevin Wolbert will be amongst the favourites but there are plenty of genuine contenders for the title.

LINEUP FOR THE KEYLINE SCOTTISH OPEN AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 19th MARCH (start time 7.15, doors open 6.30) is:

1. Andre Compton (Workington & England), 2. Michal Rajkowski (Stoke & Poland), 3. Michal Makovsky (Berwick & Czech Republic), 4. Matthew Wethers (Edinburgh & Australia), 5. Kalle Katajisto (Edinburgh & Finland), 6. Andrew Tully (Edinburgh & Scotland), 7. James Wright (Belle Vue & England), 8. Kevin Doolan (King's Lynn & Australia), 9. Joszef Tabaka (Edinburgh & Hungary), 10. James Grieves (Glasgow & Scotland), 11. William Lawson (Belle Vue & Scotland), 12. Travis McGowan (Glasgow & Australia), 13. Paul Clews (Berwick & England), 14. Kevin Wolbert (Edinburgh & Germany), 15. Ryan Fisher (Edinburgh & USA), 16. Max Dilger (Edinburgh & Germany).

THE BRIGGO RIDE: Armadale on Friday will be the starting point of a very important event in which Barry Briggs will ride his offroad Yamaha around the Speedway tracks of Britain in aid of Sport Relief and the wheelchair-bound speedway riders.

He has pledged to raise an incredible ?120,000 for the 12 most seriously injured riders, and Monarchs' promotion will allow Briggo to take a collection on Friday.

He has already appeared at Wembley during the England v Egypt football international and received a donation from the Football Association.

2009 OPEN: Friday's meeting is actually the restaging of the 2009 Scottish Open, which was rained off in July and could not be fitted in to the schedule thereafter, due mainly to the team's success!

The 2008 winner was Rory Schlein but he is unavailable to defend, riding at Coventry. Andre Compton was winner in 2001 and remains a force.

Elite League riders James Wright and William Lawson (Belle Vue), Glasgow's James Grieves and Travis McGowan and King's Lynn's Kevin Doolan look the most likely to foil home hopes, but there are plenty of spoilers!

Start time for the event is 7.15pm, 15 minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the 22 heats. Admission is slightly higher than normal at Adults ?18, OAPs ?14, Children ?5 (free if under 12 and accompanied by an adult). Please note that readmission tickets are not valid as there have been ample opportunities to use these or receive a refund.

MEETING SPONSOR: Keyline Broxburn remain sponsors of the event they have backed since 2006.

PROSPECTS OF A HOME WINNER?: The last Monarch to win the Scottish Open was the current holder Rory Schlein in 2004. Undoubtedly both Ryan Fisher and Kevin Wolbert would never go into a meeting at this level without the intention of winning it, and both Andrew Tully and Matthew Wethers know enough about Armadale to be contenders also.

Will one of them do it? They will have to overcome experienced James Grieves, 2008 runner-up Travis McGowan, 2001 winner Andre Compton, 2008 PL top average rider Kevin Doolan and Elite stars James Wright and William Lawson to do so.

Many will have a sneaking fancy for the chances of Wright who was unlucky in the Ashfield Classic last August, won in a controversial final by Fisher.

Of course William Lawson knows enough about Armadale, and is fast enough, to land his first ?Scottish' also.

Paul Clews and Michal Rajkowski are two more who are capable of beating anyone in the field.

Berwick's Testimonial rider Michal Makovsky is maybe a surprise competitor as he is not a known lover of Armadale. However when Lee Complin withdrew, it was put to him that we wanted to field two Bandits' riders to keep faith with their support, and that was good enough for Michal to accept.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs' team are in action next Friday (26th) against Glasgow Tigers in the Spring Trophy, trying to regain the silverware which Glasgow won at the start of the 2009 season.