HOLDER CHAMPION AS MONARCHS DO WELL AGAIN

NEWS Saturday 11th January 2014, 12:10pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Once again the Scotwaste Monarchs’ riders in the Australian Final third leg can be happy with their performances. Max Fricke (10) and Justin Sedgmen (9) made it to the B Final at Gillman while Sam Masters recovered from a slow start to win his last two heats.

Both Masters and Fricke had the distinction of heading home Chris Holder during the meeting. Max fell in the B Final while Justin finished behind Mason Campton and Josh Grajczonek.

Over the three meetings Justin Sedgmen has totalled 28 points, Max Fricke 26 points and Sam Masters 24, all very satisfactory in a good quality field with perhaps 3 or 4 riders who could be described as ‘lesser lights’.

The trio can now look forward to coming over and forming a significant part of the Monarchs’ strikeforce this season.

Rohan Tungate won this third leg but the Australian Champion is Chris Holder in spite of the fact that he has struggled at times to find his best form. He scored only 29 points over the three meetings but delivered the results in the latter stages.

Jason Doyle will be kicking himself as he was leading the A Final, and would have been champion if he won that race. His points total from the qualifying races was a superb 42 out of 45. What a disaster it will be for Jason and British Speedway if he is prevented by ludicrous officialdom from coming across this summer.

Championship points are awarded according to finishing order in the meetings and on this basis, Justin Sedgmen has finished equal fifth with Cameron Woodward, while Max Fricke and Sam Masters share eighth place.