Last heat heroes clinch the win

After an excellent night of Speedway the WTF Monarchs emerged victorious by 48-42 against Plymouth, a result which gives Monarchs a pretty good chance of a Playoff position. Anything less than a win would have thrown qualification into considerable doubt, and it wasn't until that final race that anyone could relax and say the job had been done. Last heat heroes Richard Lawson and Kye Thomson took a 5-1 to get Monarchs over the line.

What no Josh Pickering in the last heat? Yes it was a tough choice but the duo sent out by Alex Harkess vindicated the decision, Lawson easing ahead from gate 1 while Thomson rode a most forceful race to pass Gladiators' excellent guest Leon Flint.

For Kye Thomson it may just have been his best night for the Monarchs. He said afterwards "It was a bit tight but we had choice of gates in the last one. Heat 15s hadn't gone too well for me previously so it was great to get a 5-1. My riding tonight, I did things that I have been trying to work on but hadn't quite mastered, cut backs and passing."

The match had a bit of everything – tight scores, good racing and a bit of controversy – like every good speedway meeting should have. After Monarchs had strolled into a 9-3 lead after two heats, any thoughts of an easy night were dispelled by a 1-5 reverse for Castagna and Thomson (whose chain broke on the last lap while third) against the flying Palm Toft and Flint.

It was nip and tuck all the way after that. Hans Andersen in his first ride at Armadale gated in heat 4, and made sure that there was no room for a Pickering pass on the first lap. Josh tried again a lap later though and this time got round the Danish star.

Paco Castagna will have been annoyed with himself in heat 5, as he was tucked in behind Thomson for the four laps only to be caught right on the line for second by Leon Flint. Monarchs were six up now but Garry May delayed his tac sub move, and left it to Hans Andersen to hold off Lawson's late charge in heat 6.

Flint was the tac sub in the next one, alongside Palm Toft again, and Leon won the heat with a bit to spare on Josh Pickering who did at least catch and pass Palm Toft to limit the damage.

Heat 8 looked like a chance for Monarchs to extend their lead but it proved to be the first controversial race of the night, as Lasse Fredriksen came down at the first turn – caused, it seemed, by the riders inside him moving out and Morley taking the Norwegian's front wheel. A classic all four back – but not in the ref's eyes. Fredriksen was out but at least Hook rode an excellent race to share the heat.

Heat 9 looked good for Monarchs as Thomson and Castagna hit the front ahead of Andersen – only for Harry McGurk to hit the deck. He appeared to have every chance to clear the track but chose not to take it, and the heat was halted. Andersen seemed to have gated in the rerun but Thomson rode a superb second bend to lead down the back straight and go on to win.

Monarchs six up, a position maintained as Andersen took a win over Lawson and Fredriksen in heat 10. Michael Palm Toft trailed at the back in this one and that raised fears that his fitness might be in doubt, as he has just returned from injury.

Josh Pickering gated in heat 11 but pulled an involuntary locker on the first turn, with Morley and Sarjeant doing well to lay their machines down. This looked for all the world like an excludable offence by Josh, but the ref this time had all four back! Was he compensating for heat 8? Who can say.

Josh capitalised by winning the rerun, with Flint protecting the 3-3 behind Morley. We then had a superb heat 12 in which Thomson and Palm Toft passed and re-passed. Kye won a cracker, and Michael proved that he wasn't injured!

Ben Morley was doing his job for Plymouth and was steadily picking up points – only one non-scoring ride in six.

Six points in it, 3 heats left, and the Gladiators shaved two off that as Flint held off Lawson up front and Pickering could not make headway against the crafty Andersen. Heat 14 again was a visiting 4-2 as Palm Toft and Morley got the better of Castagna and Sarjeant.

So just two points in it as Lawson and Thomson faced up to Flint and Andersen in that excellent climax.

Monarchs and Gladiators Do Battle

In a blink of eye, the What the Fork Monarchs have reached the end of their home regular season league campaign as they welcome the Plymouth Gladiators on Friday evening knowing a victory all but secures a playoff place.

The Gladiators are right in the mix as well and know that any away points gained this weekend first at Armadale then Saturday night at Berwick will all go a long way to them confirming their own place for a tilt at the title.

The Gladiators have been fairly star crossed in recent weeks with injuries and suspensions with as recently as their Tuesday home fixture seeing a line-up including 4 guests plus rider replacement.

The challenges are not over but there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Devon men and tonight sees a return for two of their injured stars in the form of Danish duo Hans Anderson and Michael Palm Toft.

Sadly, the rest of the normal top 5 all miss out with Eddie Kennett a long-term injury miss, Alfie Bowtell on the side-lines with a knee injury and Ben Barker currently suspended. This means it is a pair of guests and r/r that make up the main body of the line-up with recently announced British GP reserve Leon Flint stepping in for Kennett at number 1, Armadale Devil Tom Woolley in for Bowtell at 2 and rider replacement operating at number 3 for Barker with all the rest of the team eligible for a ride.

Thankfully, the Gladiators normal reserve pairing of Ben Morley and Harry McGurk are in place and Morley could be a key man after multiple impressive Armadale performances so far this year.

The home men are off course not without their own injury woes as captain and number 1 Sam Masters misses out with shoulder injuries, Poole man Richard Lawson who has guested with some aplomb for the Monarchs at both Glasgow and Leicester already this year steps ins.

Elsewhere it is as expected for the home men. Lasse Fredriksen was able to return last Sunday after his withdrawal after that ill feted heat 1 at Armadale last Friday while Kye, Josh and Jacob have all enjoyed guest bookings this week to keep them on their toes.

Paco Castagna had his best meeting yet as a Monarch last Friday so more of the same will go along way to securing the points for the Monarchs and James Sarjeant looks more and more like his old self with every passing meeting and his heat 14 second was crucial in that victory last week.

So, the task for the Monarchs is clear a home win and a home win only, then a bit of a break for the Cardiff GP next weekend followed by a visit to Oxford and hopefully confirmation of that play off place.

Tapes up are at 7.30pm with tickets still available on the Monarchs website and pay at the gate available also.

Friday night is speedway night, see you there!