AARON SUMMERS LEADS THE BEARS

NEWS Tuesday 10th April 2012, 5:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Former Monarchs Aaron Summers is now captaining the Redcar Bears and he will lead his team which includes two recent signings at Armadale on Friday.

The Bears beat the Scotwaste Monarchs on their own track last month and owed a lot that night to Summers and Ulrich Ostergaard who won eight races between them. On the home side two of the Monarchs’ riders have machine problems to overcome before the match, and Craig Cook hopes to maintain his outstanding early season form.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 13th APRIL(start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Andrew Tully, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Micky Dyer, Charles Wright.

REDCAR BEARS: Ulrich Ostergaard, Carl Wilkinson, Justin Sedgmen, Matej Kus, Aaron Summers (capt.), Mark Jones, Max Dilger.

MATTHEW’S PROBLEMS: We have become so used to Matthew Wethers producing performances somewhere between decent and excellent for the past decade that it came as a surprise that he had such a poor weekend last week – 3 points from the 2 matches.

Matthew says “On Saturday morning when I was stripping my bike I found a couple of problems. I like to have the best of equipment but it seems I have been sold some faulty stuff, so I’m pretty disappointed. I have some faulty clutch plates which have jammed in the clutch. It wouldn’t have been releasing off the start properly.

“I had more problems on Saturday night – the bike felt fine on parade but when I went to practise a start on the back straight the ignition seemed to just cut and the bike stopped firing.

“I got my second bike ready, felt fine, and even popped the clutch going across the corner. I went to do a practise start, dropped the clutch – and it was like I never dropped the clutch. It didn’t engage.

“I will have a new ignition for this week. And new clutch plates. And carb. I’m having plenty of luck this year and it’s all bad.”

…AND CHARLES TOO! Reserve Charles Wright had been a surprise packet in the early matches but was off the pace at his old track Workington.

He said “My number one engine gave up on Friday so I used number 2 engine at Workington. I hadn’t ridden it since it had been rebuilt and it simply didn’t perform. It was very disappointing. Both engines are in bits today and I promise to be back on song for Friday.”

NEWCASTLE ON SUNDAY: Monarchs travel to Newcastle in the League Cup on Sunday. Diamonds are unbeaten at home but (unlike eg Workington) this is a track the Monarchs’ riders go well on, so it will be a disappointment if they don’t put up a good show.

CHANGED BEARS: Redcar lost their veteran captain Gary Havelock when he crashed badly on March 22nd. To replace Havvy they signed spectacular Carl Wilkinson, and they also took the decision to replace Aussie Robert Branford with his fellow-countryman Mark Jones, who had been left without a team when Newport closed.

The Bears’ team does appear to be built soundly with Summers and Ostergaard being a very strong spearhead, and plenty of potential for points in the remainder of the side. So far they will probably be disappointed with their form (two home draws and a heavy defeat at Workington in recent matches) but they definitely have the potential to improve.

Wilkinson will score well once he settles in, Matej Kus was very successful last season and ought to be capable of challenging for the Bears’ no. 1 jacket, and Justin Sedgmen is showing definite signs of returning to form.

Of course we can’t forget former Monarch Max Dilger who has been transferred to Redcar, where he thinks he will do better than he was able to do at Armadale. The West Lothian track never suited Max’s style but he should do well generally at reserve.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs beat Newcastle 42-33 in a rain helted match, and the result stands in the League Cup table. Theo Pijper and Craig Cook were unbeaten for Monarchs.

NEXT MEETING: Next Friday (20th) will be a big test of Monarchs’ home form as the powerful Workington side are the visitors. They are favourites to win the League Cup northern section.