DOUBLE SPEEDWAY WEEKEND

NEWS Tuesday 7th August 2012, 4:13pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have a backlog of fixtures to catch up on, and so they will be racing at Armadale Stadium this week on both Friday and Saturday, and against formidable opposition too - Somerset (currently third) on Friday and Newcastle (league leaders) on Saturday.

Prior to that the team have away matches at Somerset and Sheffield, having unluckily failed by just one point to end Leicester's unbeaten home record last Sunday. If they can avoid any mishaps in the away matches Monarchs will be at full strength with new signing Jozsef Tabaka available for all this week's matches.

ADMISSIONS THIS WEEKEND: Supporters will be offered reduced admission to the Saturday fixture against Newcastle.

Supporters attending on Friday will be able to come to our Saturday night match (7.00pm start) and present their readmission ticket to gain entry for £10 for adults, seniors, students and children 16 to 18. For children from 12 to 15 with a readmission ticket the price will be £2 and under 12s will be free.

For those who do not present a Friday readmission ticket on the Saturday the price will be £12 for adults, seniors, students and children 16 to 18. For children 12 to 15 it will be £4 and for under 12s £1.

Supporters can also benefit from a further discount by booking a weekend ticket through the Monarchs' online ticketing website.

REMAINING HOME FIXTURES: Remaining league fixtures at Armadale:

Friday 10th August v Somerset (PL)

Saturday 11th August v Newcastle (PL – 7pm)

Friday 17th August Stormy Wethers Testimonial (season tickets not applicable)

Friday 24th August no meeting (Premier Pairs day)

Friday 31st August Scunthorpe (PL) / Redcar (PL)

Friday 7th September Ipswich (PL)

Friday 14th September Glasgow (PL)

Friday 21st September Leicester (PL)

The visit of Rye House, abandoned last Friday, has still to be rearranged.

Monarchs have ridden just four home league matches, with SIX having fallen foul of the weather. Every other team has ridden at least six at home.

COOK KEEPS IT GOING: Following the news that he has been awarded a reserve berth for the British Grand Prix in Cardiff, Craig Cook continues to excel.

He dropped just one point at Leicester for Monarchs, and on Monday at Belle Vue helped former Monarch Rory Schlein to save the Aces. Both Rory and Craig scored 11+1 in a formidable opening pairing, as the team beat Birmingham.

SPONSORING ON FRIDAY: The sponsors of Friday's match against Somerset will be First Furnishings of Broxburn, first timers at Armadale.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 10th August (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Jozsef Tabaka, Marcel Helfer.

SOMERSET REBELS: Jason Doyle, Alex Davies, Sam Masters, James Wright, Jesper B Monberg, Kyle Newman, Tom Perry.

A VERY STRONG SIDE: Somerset are undeniably one of the strongest teams in the league, and if there is a rider whose performances have matched Craig Cook's in the Premier League this year, then that man is Rebels' no. 1 Jason Doyle.

They have two Premier League Riders Champions in their middle pair - Sam Masters (current) and James Wright (2007)!

They have an experienced ex-Elite rider in Jesper B Monberg, signed to replace injured Claus Vissing. Monberg (formerly known as Jensen) was runner up in the 2002 Scottish Open.

So that is an exceptionally tough top five. At reserve, Kyle Newman is highly rated and Tom Perry (who rode several matches for Monarchs last year) has been doing well for GB Under-21 this season.

It could hardly be tougher!

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON SATURDAY 11th August (start time 7.00, doors open 6.00) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Jozsef Tabaka, Marcel Helfer.

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: Stuart Robson, Claes Nedermark, Mark Lemon (capt.), Christian Henry, Ludvig Lindgren, Paul Starke, Mason Campton.

ALWAYS A THREAT: Newcastle are a side with substantial Armadale expertise and they will certainly give Monarchs a run for their money on Saturday.

They have done very well this season and their strength lies in the fact that any of their riders are capable of winning races home or away.

Once again there is an ex-Monarch in the side in the shape of Christian Henry who has mercifully had an injury-free year at last and is riding well.

The Diamonds are missing the Worrall twins at reserve and that is a blow for them. Both have broken legs, terrible luck for two of the most talked-about riders of the season.

However they could hardly have found a better guest than Mason Campton, very much a rising star at Glasgow.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs suffered a cruel abandonment at heat 6 after an unscheduled downpour. The score was standing at 18-17 at the time.

NEXT MEETING: It's a very big day at Armadale on Friday 17th August, the Stormy Wethers Testimonial, celebrating Matthew Wethers' ten years with the club.

Full Result Details