CLOSE CONTEST EXPECTED

NEWS Tuesday 25th March 2014, 8:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Scottish Speedway 2014 gets under way on Friday at Armadale Stadium as our two sides come together for the first of several contests – the Scotwaste Monarchs against the Glasgow Allied Vehicle Tigers.

Monarchs have four new riders in their side this season, while Tigers have almost completely revamped their team for the new season after a poor 2013. Theo Pijper captains the Tigers after two years back with Monarchs, and with track knowledge evenly distributed between the teams the expectation is that the derbies will be the most closely contested for ages.

TEAMS FOR THE AIR FENCE CHALLENGE FIRST LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 28th MARCH (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Aaron Fox, Max Fricke, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Sam Masters, Justin Sedgmen, Steve Worrall.

GLASGOW ALLIED VEHICLE TIGERS: Ricky Wells (guest), Mark Lemon, Theo Pijper (capt.), Dimitri Berge, Rusty Harrison, Kasper Lykke Nielsen, Anders Thomsen.

AIR FENCES IN PLACE: All Premier League clubs have been required to have an Air Fence round their tracks this season, in place of the old wooden ones, and this understandable safety measure has resulted in considerable expense for any club which had not already taken the plunge.

Both Scottish clubs have been involved in successful fundraising during the winter and so fans will see the new Air Fences this weekend. The two matches are part of the fundraising efforts with the riders giving their services for expenses only, and all proceeds going to the Air Fence Fund.

From Edinburgh’s viewpoint, we are extremely grateful to the riders, to the fans who have sponsored the panels so generously and to everyone who has turned up en masse for the winter’s fundraising events.

TRACK RECORD: The Armadale track record holder at the end of last season was Craig Cook.

Hardly surprising that, but there will have to be a new record set this year – and that’s because the starting gate has been shifted a few yards back from the first bend, while the finishing line has stayed where it was!

This is in response to a feeling that last year the start was too close to the bend. So a race will be slightly longer!

CAPTAIN’S COMMENT: Prediction from Monarchs’ skipper Derek Sneddon: “I know that Glasgow have a few new faces and look a better side this year. I don’t see any reason why we can’t beat them though. It’s good to get back in it and there’s a good atmosphere around.”

GRAND DRAW AGENTS SPONSORING: Of course the Monarchs have also benefited (for the last 20 years) from the hugely successful Monarchs Grand Draw, and in recognition of that the Agents will be invited to spend some time in Armadale’s Hospitality as meeting sponsors on Friday.

A NEW TEAM OF TIGERS: An unusual fact about the Glasgow team on Friday is that only one of them appeared in Tigers’ colours at Armadale last season – and that is their guest Ricky Wells!

The American stands in for Kevin Wolbert who is away representing Germany on the continent (but will be back for Sunday). Wells also guested last October, in place of Joe Screen.

Anders Thomsen was a Tiger last season but never appeared for them at Armadale. Nevertheless the young Dane is expected to be a key man for his team from the off, in a strong looking reserve pairing with Kasper Lykke Nielsen.

Theo Pijper has ridden 176 times previously at Armadale, mostly for Monarchs, which makes him the most experienced Armadale exponent. He now captains the great rivals and will take a lot of beating.

Veteran Aussies Rusty Harrison (ex-Monarch also) and Mark Lemon know the track very well and forma solid middle order, and making up an interesting septet is young French rider Dimitri Berge who has great potential.

AWAY LEG: The Scotwaste Monarchs travel to Glasgow on Sunday for the second leg of the Air Fence Challenge (3pm start).

NEXT MEETING: The League Cup campaign commences next Friday at Armadale with the visit of Berwick Bandits.