Bear Necessities

PREVIEW Thursday 20th April 2017, 8:15pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Parsons Peebles Monarchs will look to jump back to the top of the SGB Championship table tomorrow night as we welcome the Redcar SG Petch Bears to the Dale.

The Bears are under new stewardship this season with long term boss Brian Havelock having taken a step back and we welcome the new promotional team in what we hope will be a long and fruitful tenure for them.

Changes off the track have been mirrored on it as the Bears only retained 2 of last year's side which finished in the lower reaches of the division over the winter. A recent injury to ex-Monarch Tobias Busch has forced a further change and with family and Premiership commitments meaning two of the Bears regulars are ruled out it what will be an unfamiliar Bears line-up that will head up the a1 tomorrow night albeit full of familiar faces from days past.

The first change in the line-up comes at number 1 where unfortunately Jason Garrity has to miss out due to a family funeral. Stepping in to replace Garrity is Ritchie Worrall. Worrall is on flying form for Glasgow just now and looks to be making a strong push for the number 1 bib through the west. Very nearly a Monarch last season Richie like his championship winning brother Stevie is a lightning gater and will be sure to challenge our top boys who will need to go some to match last week’s achievements of maximums for all of our top 3.

Number 2 for the Bears is recent recruit and a Glasgow teammate of Ritchie's last season Coty Garcia. The likeable Argentinean has made friends everywhere he has ridden so far in his short British career with his never say die attitude and enthusiasm. A league cup winner as a guest for the Monarchs in 2014 he has never quite found the quickest way round Armadale but as he is only on a short term deal with the Bears pending Busch's return from injury he will be keen to impress.

The second rider to miss out is at number 3 where another ex Monarch Charles Wright was due to line-up. Unfortunately Charles will be missing due to his doubling up commitments and he will take his place at Somerset against Swindon instead of at the Dale. Rider replacement operates with all bar Worrall being able to take an extra ride.

The only current Bear to have been part of the line-up come season’s end last year is Jonas B Anderson the Dane is making steady progress as he enters his third season with the Bears. He only has one previous Armadale visit but with a score of paid 6 on his debut our track certainly holds no fears.

Number 5 is one of the most recognisable men in the second tier in Ben Barker. Barker may not quite have the same scoring power he did in his pomp when he was one of the top men in the division but if his early season form is anything to go by a return to those days may be in the offing. A pantomime villain character Barker takes it all in good nature and on his day he can be devastatingly quick and skilful on the bike.

Senior reserve and perhaps the most senior reserve in the league is Richard Hall. Remarkably now entering his 17th year in professional speedway Hall is an all or nothing type of rider. Perhaps more at home on the bigger tracks very view who witnessed it (and it can still be seen regularly on speedway gold on sky) will forget his title winning performance in the Elite League final for Peterborough back in 2006. With all his experience Hall can never be discounted from popping up with an important ride.

At the opposite end of the experience scale is Halls reserve partner Ellis Perks. Perks is another to have benefited from the fast track system and now is in his 3rd year at this level. Things appear to be clicking into place this year and Perks will be up there with the top number 7's in the league this year.

Redcar have been a little inconsistent this year with strong away performances being paired with disappointing home results although this may be down to the changes to the line-up over the winter. Certainly we can take nothing for granted tomorrow night as we look for the 3 points to propel us back to the summit of the table.

For the home heroes we line up with a full 1-7. Josh took a heavy knock last Friday but there is no danger of him missing tomorrow night. Mark and Ricky had a frustrating trip to Germany last weekend with their meeting being postponed after 4 heats (both having won their first race) Sam and Max continue to be busy with Premiership commitments and Mitch moves into a busy spell with Stoke’s National League season starting to ramp up.

A busy spell lies ahead with 5 matches in the coming 9 days or so as the Parsons Peebles Monarchs look to maintain the momentum from an excellent start to the season so why not get yourself along to Armadale tomorrow and cheer the boys along.

See you there!

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