ALL TO RACE FOR

PREVIEW Thursday 25th July 2013, 10:00am

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It's four hundred and eighteen miles from Armadale to Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich but it's a journey that the Scotwaste Monarchs will be undertaking on Thursday as we attempt to defend the six point lead gained in the first leg of the League Cup semi final at Armadale on 5th July.

Up until last Friday the biggest defeat the Scotwaste Monarchs had suffered was a four point loss at Scunthorpe on the 6th of May, the day that Claus Vissing was leading his only two races when he fell both times and crashed out of the meeting. On the basis of that form six points should be enough to take us through to the League Cup final against Newcastle but there will be no complacency in the team as everyone knows that the match against Ipswich Witches will be very very difficult and success will be a wonderful achievement.

Both teams had riders in action on Wednesday evening. Craig Cook was riding for Belle Vue at Poole and he had one of his poorer Elite League outings of the season managing just four points from his four outings. Ipswich star Rohan Tungate was on the other side and he fared only slightly better scoring five points from five rides for the triumphant Pirates. Witches will be delighted that Tungate came through the meeting unscathed as he managed just one lap at Ipswich last week before pulling out of the meeting. Ipswich number one Ben Barker was riding for Birmingham and he scored seven as the Brummies squeezed to a two point win over Eastbourne.

It a quick trip back up the road for an important league match against Berwick. The Scotwaste Monarchs will be hoping to shake off their indifferent home form with a big win over the Bandits who have strengthened their team by bringing in Adam Ellis as a guest replacement for the injured Nicki Barrett.

By the start of the meeting on Friday night we will have announced twelve of the participants in the Scottish Open sponsored by David Harrison Ford. The riding order draw, together with the last four names, will be made during the meeting on Friday evening. Sponsorships of heat, rider, tyre and fuel & oil can be purchased from the Club Shop on Friday.