# 6:
Mark Parker

Mark Parker aims to provide a spark as he lines up for Stellar Monarchs Academy for the 2024 season.

Parker will enter his first full season of National Development League racing having made his debut with the Academy late last season. The 18 year-old Cumbrian said, "I'm extremely excited to be racing my first full year with Edinburgh. I can't wait to be back on the shale, especially Armadale.

"There wasn't much thinking to be done on whether I'd sign for Edinburgh or not. From the first time I rode with them I was welcomed by everyone, the advice I was given by all team members and management was and still is great. It has helped me progress so much in such a short space of time.

Looking at the season ahead, Parker has set himself an impressive target, "I'm looking forward to working and learning a lot more with everyone in 2024. I'm hoping to excel even more in my speedway career. I have speed and technique around the bigger tracks now so I'm hoping I can take that to smaller tracks such as Armadale. I'd love to end the 2024 season on a high note being a heat leader."

Stellar Monarchs Academy manager Scott Wilson is pleased to have Parker on board, "Including Mark in the Academy side was an easy decision. He committed himself to Edinburgh at the end of last season which we were very pleased about. Having Mark involved with the Academy in 2023 was always with a view to 2024. He has seen the level now and knows what he is going in to.

"He is very ambitious, something I really like about Mark, but we both know he has a lot of hard work and improving to do. I firmly believe he is in the right place to continue doing that and I'm excited to see what he can achieve this upcoming season."

Mark Parker is the fourth rider to be named in the Stellar Monarchs Academy side for the 2024 National Development League season which gets underway in April.