Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

Bright weather and a very good home performance were the main features of Armadale’s first match of the season.

Both Scottish clubs came close to expiring at the end of last season so there was definitely a feeling of appreciation that we’re all still here.

Although the scoreline is one-sided there was quite a bit of good racing, with Theo Pijper the entertainer of the night for his brilliant inside passing. His battle with James Grieves in heat 9 was the evening’s highlight, Pijper just taking it on the line.

Craig Cook was just as invincible as Pijper, but the only time he was headed was by Joe Screen in the opening race. Cook took just over a lap to cut past, and the heat was then stopped when Joey Ringwood fell.

Ringwood was the most entertaining Tiger, showing no fear as he opened the throttle right from the start. He diced with the fence a few times but was rewarded with a race win in heat 11, in which Joe Screen unfortunately picked up an injury when he caught his foot in Claus Vissing’s back wheel.

Monarchs’ new Dane was very sound, and he too finished with a win. Jozsef Tabaka did everything expected of him at reserve and the Armadale team do seem to have a pleasing balance.

It was Glasgow’s first match of the season and their newcomers showed raw promise, but they will hope for a little more from the experienced end of the team.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

Speedway will once again burst into red-hot Friday night action at Armadale this week in the only way it should, with a totally unpredictable Spring Trophy derby match between two new-look sides from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

For Monarchs it’s hopefully the start of a new era built on the back of some incredible support from its loyal fans and sponsors, while for Glasgow it’s also hopefully the start of a new era with a complete change of management and an increased level of supporter involvement.

In a fascinating match-up at No.1 are two riders at the opposite ends of their careers. Joe Screen has been near the peak of UK speedway for a generation while Craig Cook is keenly tipped to be a star of the future. And while Joe has not found the Premier League to be a pushover, Craig is learning just how tough the Elite League can be.

At No.2, inspirational captain Derek Sneddon will want to consolidate and build on his first season back in the blue and gold. On the other side of the pits, this will be the first glimpse of the Scotwaste Arena for one of Glasgow’s latest Australian captures, Joey Ringwood. We’ll have to wait and see if that works against him or in his favour.

The effervescent Dutch rider Theo Pijper is thoroughly enjoying his second spell in Scottish speedway but Glasgow’s major winter capture, James Wright could dent that enthusiasm. ‘Wrighty’ is well known to Monarchs fans from his earliest days with Workington and has often demonstrated his liking for the Armadale track.

Max Fricke, another young Australian, just turned 17, is expected to take some time to find his feet, having been pitched straight into a Premier League side. His opposite number at 4, the hard-riding, high scoring Dane, Henning Bager, on the other hand has all the experience to have a very big say in the Tigers’ fortunes this year.

Edinburgh’s major new signing is an equally exciting Dane, Claus Vissing, who makes his Armadale debut in Monarchs’ colours at No.5, having been with the high flying Somerset Rebels last year. His opposite number needs no introduction to either set of fans, still Scotland’s No.1 rider and still as fiercely competitive as ever, James Grieves.

The enigmatic young German rider, Marcel Helfer is desperate to improve on last season’s patchy performances where he showed tantalising glimpses of his undoubted talent. He faces Glasgow’s second new Australian signing, 21-year-old Harley Horwood who has ridden a few British tracks although not really in serious competitive action – until now!

Last but not least at No.7 is the fearless Hungarian rider, Joszef Tabaka who so endeared himself to the home fans last year – whenever his bike allowed him to finish. His counterpart is Joe Jacobs, still only 19 and looking to make it at Premier League level after a couple of seasons nearer to his home in Suffolk with Mildenhall and Rye House.

My prediction for this match – there will be no shortage of incident for the fans to talk about on the way home once the (proverbial) dust has settled on this mouth-watering encounter. The action starts at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Max Fricke, Claus Vissing, Marcel Helfer, Jozsef Tabaka.

GLASGOW WESTERN COMMERCIALS TIGERS: Joe Screen, Joey Ringwood, James Wright, Henning Bager, James Grieves, Harley Horwood, Joe Jacobs.