Birmingham Brummies v Edinburgh Monarchs

Birmingham was a great venue for us last year, and so it proved to be again as we dashed the Brummies? faint championship hopes with a brilliant 49-41 triumph.

It seemed a bit uncharitable as Birmingham had kindly done us a title-winning favour last year, but there you go. We were just so good.

The track was slickish but still provided some excellent racing as the home men, notably Piszcz, expected, but Aaron Summers was equally good and both Rajkowski and Wethers were also very effective.

Ryan started the night with a big win over Piszcz, reminding us how impressive he had been here last season. Max Dilger briefly showed but was quickly passed by both home riders.

Bekker made a good start in heat 2 and went across Herne who fell and brought both men down. The exclusion of Herne seemed a little harsh but assisted us to go ahead with a 4-2 after Aaron had re-passed Lee Smart.

Sweetman showed his class by heading our strong middle pair, and Lyons likewise in heat 4, but we shared the heats.

Ryan came down on the outside of the first bend in heat 5, but made a better start at the second attempt to sweep home for another win.

Brummies levelled in heat 6 but it was an excellent ride by Rajkowski to pass Harrison for second behind Piszcz.

Lyons headed Wethers and Wolbert, then we had a pileup in heat 8 as Max tried to get in on the match. He was fighting to hold third but ran into Smart. He was excluded but Aaron Summers maintained our position by winning the rerun easily.

Now Rajkowski showed his battling quality with a storming ride in heat 9, pushing his way to the front and holding off Sweetman in a fine race.

Wolbert had himself dialled in now and rode a thundering heat 10 to beat Piszcz, who was also strongly pressurised by Wethers as we took a 2-point lead.

Now it was Fisher v Lyons again, with memories of last year?s classics, and once again Ryan rode a great race. Aaron held third but apparently lost his seat as he dropped back into last place.

He was needed for the next one though, and with seat attached he backed Kevin to a crucial 5-1 over Lindgren who seemed somewhat subdued.

The first corner of heat 13 was always going to be hotly contested, and it was a domino effect as Lyons came down outside Piszcz and Fisher. After treatment Jason was OK but could only manage a point as Piszcz took the first point off Fisher.

What a great race heat 14 was. Wethers and Summers set up a team ride with Sweetman pressing. The home Aussie squeezed past Matthew and then Aaron as well, only for Aaron to come back with a brilliant burst off the outside of the second bend.

That was enough to ensure that we had won the match. We needed an advantage for the extra point.

We got that with a bit of help from Tomasz Piszcz?s bike which stopped while he was leading. Fortunately the others missed him but Ryan was impeded and lost position to Lyons. With Wolbert winning though we had the points we needed.

As always Birmingham were sporting and as our riders walked across to acknowledge the fans their announcer actually introduced our boys individually, a nice touch.

Birmingham Brummies v Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race their penultimate away Premier League fixture on Wednesday with a trip to title chasing Birmingham.

Both teams will be hoping it?s a case of third time lucky where the weather?s concerned following rain offs in both July and August. And, while the Brummies may be at the top end of the table, it?s possible we could catch them cold as this will be their first meeting in September following a mixture of horrible weather, power failures and sidecars events!

It?s also possible the Brummies officials, fans and riders could have their minds elsewhere as they face a far more important battle just 24 hours later when the local Planning Department make their decision as to whether or not speedway will continue in the second City. Having made such a fine return to the sport, it would be a tragedy to lose such a well respected side for the sake of a handful of complaints. I?m sure I speak on behalf of speedway punters everywhere when I wish them all the very best.

Turning our attentions to this clash and it?s fair to say the likes of Jason Lyons, Tomasz Piszcz and Jay Herne will always have a special place in our hearts. They were part of the team which defeated the Somerset Rebels on September 24 last year in a victory which clinched the Premier League title for the Monarchs. That?s not to say we?ll be returning any favours this season of course but, personally speaking, I?ll always do my best to tip my hat if I see them walking down the street!

Elsewhere, Russell Harrison is well known to us all, while the middle order pairing of Ludvig Lindgren and Richard Sweetman has been the cornerstone of the side. Lindgren has been a steady performer despite the pressure of the almost inevitable comparisons with his Grand Prix brother Fredrik, while Sweetman has been excellent, and even more so since his elevation to the top 5.

The Brummies? side is completed by Lee Smart, who has certainly been a man of many clubs this season. He appears settled now and is more than capable of popping in a double figure score to win any meeting.

In the Monarchs? camp, Kevin Wolbert and Max Dilger made a successful comeback from illness and injury respectively yesterday when they finished 2nd and 3rd in the German Under 21 Championship. Having missed Friday?s double header, both re-enter the UK fray for this one. Wolbert has taken to the British scene like a duck to water (quite literally at times given the weather!) while Dilger has struggled somewhat. The latter will complete his 12th meeting in this one and receive a new average 7 days later...

Our past record at Perry Barr is somewhat mixed. We suffered a rather heavy defeat in 2007 but last year?s all conquering outfit emerged victorious in both the Premier League encounter and the Premier Trophy Final. Top man on each occasion was American Ryan Fisher, with scores of 12+1 and 17. A repeat performance this time round wouldn?t go amiss!

It promises to be an interesting night?s speedway but, whatever happens, let?s hope for dry weather and, as always, may the best team win...

Likely line-ups:

Brummies: Tomasz Piszcz, Russell Harrison, Ludvig Lindgren, Richard Sweetman, Jason Lyons, Jay Herne, Lee Smart.

Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Max Dilger, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Michal Rajkowski, Byron Bekker, Aaron Summers.