Edinburgh Monarchs v Plymouth Devils

PREVIEW Friday 17th May 2013, 12:00pm

by Gordon Fraser

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The really serious business of mounting a Premier League challenge begins at Armadale this Friday when the Plymouth Devils bring their completely re-modelled 2013 side north in search of a first away win.

A change of Devils' management brought a change of team building philosophy. Out went the big two of Ryan Fisher and Ben Barker and in came a more evenly balanced side. But with only two wins so far, the team from Devon have not yet sparked into life as had been hoped.

After a week in the speedway spotlight, the Premier League's undoubted No.1, Craig Cook, can't rest on his laurels against Plymouth's exciting new star rider, Ty Proctor (26) from Victoria who will be remembered for guesting in both legs of King's Lynn's 2009 KO Cup Final win against Monarchs.

Edinburgh's No.2, Derek Sneddon will have seen his opposite number, 28-year-old Chris Schramm from Essex putting up a very creditable show in the British Final. Chris started in speedway at Sittingbourne and was a permanent feature in that same 2009 King's Lynn treble-winning side.

The match-up at second heat leader is just as fierce where the deadly Dutchman, Theo Pijper, lines up opposite 40-year-old Mark Lemon from Victoria who is riding as well as he has ever done after finally getting over a long-standing, career-threatening collarbone injury..

Monarchs' own Australian, Max Fricke is progressing very nicely and is becoming a favourite with the home fans. He won't find it easy this week though against Ricky Kling, a 25-year-old rider from Sweden who has lots of Elite League experience with Lakeside, Eastbourne and Belle Vue.

If determination and enthusiasm was all that mattered, Edinburgh's Claus Vissing would be World Champion. He makes his latest attempt to conquer the Scotwaste Arena against 26-year-old Cory Gathercole, second cousin to Leigh Adams, who started out in the UK on the huge Isle of Wight track.

The Edinburgh fans will be cheering on their new No.6, Mitchell Davey, the enthusiastic Australian who rode for several seasons at Glasgow. He lines up opposite 23-year-old Jake Anderson from Victoria (where else) whose assessed average benefits from having a Scottish grandfather.

Hungarian Jozsef Tabaka has a longer weekly journey than just the short hop from Plymouth, and Monarchs will be looking for him to outscore the fifth Devil from Australia, 20-year-old Todd Kurtz who previously rode for Newport and who is averaging a terrific two points per race at the moment.

So, man for man, the two sides look fairly even but Edinburgh have been pretty devastating on their home shale so far. A look at the Devils' scorecharts show that each rider has both high and low scores which perhaps explains Plymouth's inconsistent and disappointing start to the season.

However, one of these days they will all put it together at the same time and some side will suffer. Monarchs fans will be hoping it doesn't happen this weekend since they will follow the Devils down the long road to Plymouth for the return fixture on Saturday.

Monarchs will be looking to make a serious statement of intent in their first home Premier League match but they won't have it all their own way. So if you've got any voice left after shouting encouragement to Craig Cook this week, be there on Friday (7.30) to cheer on your blue and gold heroes.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Theo Pijper, Max Fricke, Claus Vissing, Mitchell Davey, Jozsef Tabaka.

PLYMOUTH ST BLAZEY MX DRIVE REVIVE DEVILS: Ty Proctor, Chris Schramm, Mark Lemon (capt.), Ricky Kling, Corey Gathercole, Jake Anderson, Todd Kurtz.

Full Result Details