Double Salvo This Weekend

PREVIEW Friday 12th April 2024, 8:30am

by Jim Milton

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Stellar Monarchs are raring to go for the 2024 season, starting with an opening weekend double this Friday and Saturday away against Glasgow and Berwick.

There's nothing better than getting things off to a flying start, so last Friday's postponement was especially frustrating.Very much an occupational hazard in these parts, as the weather disrupted the start of Stellar Monarchs season.

By the time our 'new look' side takes to the track for the first time, that well-oiled process of bike, track and team mate familiarisation, unique to a season's earliest days, will already have been sampled by both of this weekend's BSN Series opponents, Glasgow (Friday) and Berwick (Saturday)

To say 2023's Championship winning Tigers will be keen to retain their title is putting it mildly. Yet early signs suggest that achieving a repeat of last season's superb feat won't be easy.

Their 48-42 defeat at Berwick on 6th April was a blow for Cami Brown's men although they did have to go into the meeting with only six riders, Lee Complin missing out having returned a 'non-negative' drugs test, with this still to be resolved Poole young gun Sam Hagon steps in this Friday.

The Tigers did well to fight back from an early deficit but Berwick proved just too strong in the end.

Chris Harris put in a masterful performance for the Tigers, with a top scoring 15 points from his six rides, while former Bandits favourite Leon Flint weighed in with a healthy 8+1.

Stellar Monarchs open season at Glasgow

The first action of the weekend sees Stellar Monarchs head west to take on the Tigers. Including Flint, Glasgow's class of '24 boasts a quartet of new faces.

Former Monarch Stevie Worrall arrives as the team's second heat leader while seasoned campaigner Paul Starke, returning for a second spell in the red and white, should provide strong support from the engine room. He will also serve as a go-to role model for the younger members of the squad.

One of those, 18 year old Aussie James Pearson, is a particularly precocious talent of whom much is expected. This assessment also applies to Ace Pijper who will again start at reserve. The promising Scot will be looking to build upon last season's great showing as a rookie.

Without wishing to patronise him in any way, Ace continues to look almost too young to ride a speedway bike - much as a certain Dan Bewley did when he featured briefly in Edinburgh's blue and gold circa 2016. Whatever did happen to him?

Saturday showdown in the Borders

Providing Edinburgh's BSN Series opposition 24 hours after the trip to Ashfield will be the aforementioned and hugely fancied Berwick Bandits.

Contrasting with Edinburgh, and to a certain extent, Glasgow, the Bandits' early season schedule has been busy, not to mention flawless with three wins from their three fixtures against Workington (home and away) and Glasgow.

Perhaps the groundswell of hype surrounding Stewart Dickson's new chargers won't be too far off the mark after all.

One glance at the Berwick line-up explains why everything seems to be falling into place on Tweedside.

The capture of Lewis Kerr puts down a distinct marker around which a solid septet appears to have been formed but again the injury bug seeks to have bitten with Kerr suffering a leg injury riding for Oxford on Thursday night, Kerr's status or replacement for this one still to be confirmed.

Joining Kerr at the top of the order is Rory Schlein, one of four ex-Monarchs poised to wear the black and gold this season.

Like Rory, Jye Etheridge returns to Shielfield for another term and he'll have a hugely important role to play if honours are to follow potential.

Drew Kemp and reserve Bastian Borke also have a recent Edinburgh past and both will be expected to provide consistency from the team's middle order.

The balance of the Bandits' squad comes in the form of former Glasgow Tiger Danyon Hume and exciting novice Freddy Hodder, one a rider increasing in maturity just at the right time, the other a work in progress who could very easily go to the very top.

Stellar Monarchs look for strong start

What of the Stellar Monarchs though?

Last week's frustrating rain off only served to whet the appetite for the bikes to roar even more.

Unprecedented problems with injury and illness blighted the team's progress right from the start last term. Yet, to their credit, they still managed to squeeze into the play-offs. Previous woes prevailed, however, and the team's end of season involvement proved short-lived.

Often where a team has, by their own very high standards, fallen short of expectation, it can provide an excuse for wholesale changes. The powers that be at Armadale have taken an opposite approach, however, inviting no fewer than four of last year's top five - Josh Pickering, Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson and new skipper Paco Castagna - back for a further spell.

Free of last season's woes, there in no reason why this foursome cannot recapture some of the form that made them fans' favourites in the first place.

Elsewhere in the team, familiarity continues to be an overwhelming theme with hero of 2014/2015, Justin Sedgmen returning for a third spell and reserve Connor Coles also making a West Lothian comeback fresh from 'the best season of his career' at Berwick.

Which leaves the side's only true newcomer, 16 year old Yorkshire lad Max James, who took Armadale by storm last season with a sterling display while visiting with Leicester Lions Cubs in the National Development League.

The shale flies at 7.30pm at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium, Glasgow on Friday and 7pm on Saturday at Shielfield Park, Berwick with live updates available on the official Monarchs website for both.

Here's to a memorable campaign…

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