Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

LOOKING AHEAD

NEWS Tuesday 20th October 2015, 1:04pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Whilst the Border Roofing Monarchs were clinching back to back league championships, The British Speedway Promoters Assocation AGM was taking place at Rugby. Alex Harkess represented the Club on both days at the weekend although it was a rush back to Armadale to manage the team on Saturday night.

The format of the Premier League for 2016 was mapped out at the meeting and, although there were some suggestions that some 2015 teams would drop out, all will come to the tapes again in 2016.

The Premier League, Knock Out Cup and League Cup competitions will again be the staple diet of season 2016 with play offs to decide the League Champions.

It's impossible to tell at this stage if we will have a tough knock out cup draw as teams are not known yet but it will certainly be tough to get there as our first round draw takes us to Plymouth. If we are successful there then we will face Redcar or Glasgow in the quarter final.

The points limit of 42.50 has been retained but each team must now use a rider eligile for the National League with a three point average. That means that it is certain that there will be changes in the Border Roofing Monarchs team in 2016. Our finishing team total average for 2015 is 47.45 and although we started 2015 with two British riders on a three point average at least one will need to move on in 2016. If we use neither it is possible, now that their averages are greater than three, that they will be thrown on the scrap heap.

So the bright new initiative to support British riders potentially rules two of the brightest out. It is certainly not a ruling that we were happy with at the AGM.

Our 2015 team is already on the move. Sam Masters and Justin Sedgmen are already on their way to Australia for the GP on Saturday. Erik Riss and Kevin Wolbert have returned to Germany with Erik moving onto Australia later this week for the World Under 21 Team Cup at the end of the month. Rob Branford departs for Australia at the end of the month.

Our big social event is now looming on the horizon. The End of Season Dinner and Dance takes place on Saturday 7th November in the Edinburgh Capital Hotel. There are still tickets available.