Resilient Monarchs Secure Bonus

With the Euros still ongoing albeit minus a Scottish interest it feels apt to use a football analogy and tonight's match at Scunthorpe was certainly a match of two halves for the Stellar Monarchs as they went down 50-39, a result which secured the aggregate bonus point.

An eleven point defeat on the night a respectable outcome seeing as the Monarchs were 18 down after eight heats and fearing the worst.

At this half way stage any hope of a Monarchs resurgence looked long gone as the hosts took control but led once again by the brilliant Josh Pickering who was unbeaten after his first ride the Armadale men stuck to their guns and while victory on the night was out of their grasp Pickering and fellow heat-leader Justin Sedgmen's heat 13 maximum secured the overall bonus.

Pickering saying after "It was always going to be tough Scunthorpe are dialled in around their home track.

"The start of the meeting we did not start well and you were getting covered in shale if you didn't make the gate but the result was there in the end I guess when it comes to the bonus point and that was the main thing.

"We have all jumped in and done our part, it is a collective 1-7 and we have all chipped away and everyone contributed so it is credit to the boys that we all stuck in and as I said in regards the bonus point we got the job done."

As mentioned it was a tough start for the Monarchs and while it is easy to look for excuses with the combination of a track that had obviously been prepared with 30 heats in mind that caused concern for both camps, a malfunctioning starting mechanism and a ridiculous advantage for gate four that saw riders from the outside score 17 out of a possible 18 over the first six heats it was a night that could have gotten away from the Monarchs as the home men smelt blood.

That this did not unfold is once again credit to the spirit in the Monarchs camp and as the page turned on the match programme to the latter heats it was the Armadale men who finished stronger.

Heat nine saw the introduction of Pickering as a tactical substitute alongside Sedgemen and the resulting maximum heat advantage gave hope.

This looked to be extinguished as in the next race, first up Lasse Fredriksen came down on the first bend then in the re-run Paco Castagna caught some unwanted grip and hit the dirt also, the resulting home five nil nullifying the excitement of the previous race Monarchs maximum.

The Monarchs were not done though and a clever first lap by Kye Thomson in heat eleven saw him join Pickering at the front for another 5-1 that put the Monarchs back on track.

Heat 12 saw controversy as Fredriksen took umbrage to some over zealous defensive riding by home reserve Luke Harrison that could have ended in tears, the post match exchange between the two getting physical, this resulting in fines for both the Monarch and a member of the Scunthorpe pit crew.

The next race saw the strong Monarchs pairing of Pickering and Sedgmen of the golden gates two and four and they promptly delivered the bonus point clinching maximum.

Further heat wins would follow for Castagna and Pickering to close the match, the former of these probably the heat of the night as the Monarch and home pair Connor Mountain and Nathan Ablitt rode side by side for the first two laps before the Italian put his mark on proceedings.

So, an aggregate bonus point victory for the Stellar Monarchs with rivalries set to be renewed in the not to distant future as the sides do battle once again in the BSN Series semi-finals.

Scunthorpe Scorpions 50 : Howarth 11+3, Palm Toft R/R, Lambert 14, Mountain 6+2, Allen 9, Ablitt 5+1, Harrison 5

Stellar Monarchs 39 : Pickering 15+1, Thomson 4+1, Fredriksen 2, Castagna 7, Sedgmen 8+1, James 1+1, Coles 2

Double Up At Scunny

Slowly but surely the Stellar Monarchs' home base at Armadale returns to the fortress we all know and love.

Last Friday's pummeling of Scunthorpe was arguably their most entertaining, and factually their most convincing performance of the campaign so far.

The Scorpions arrived proudly positioned at the top of the Championship table but their new-found reputation was swiftly swept aside when, as early as Heat 1, Joh Pickering and Kye Thomson posted the Monarchs' intent with a storming 5-1.

2024 had not started too strongly for Kye, but switching to No.2 in the line-up has shown immediate signs of improved fortunes for the popular Aussie. Early days, of course, but a nine-point haul including a couple of heat wins equates to a solid step in the right direction in anyone's book.

Not that K.T. Was alone in helping disarm the Lincolnshire high-flyers in such devastating style. Josh Pickering and Justin Sedgmen are themselves in the middle of some superlative form presently and paid maximums for both in the 54-36 win was just what we needed to humble the shellshocked table-toppers.

There was plenty of support from other quarters too. Skipper Paco Castagna equalled Thomson's nine-point effort while Connor Cole's with a creditable six-point return, failed to score in just one of his five races.

Being afforded the opportunity of maintaining their current home momentum would have been nice, but the upcoming flurry of on-track and far-from-Armadale activity - trips to Scunthorpe (where our chances of nailing that potentially vital aggregate bonus point are surely there for the taking), Plymouth and Poole in the space of six crazy days - could itself impact significantly on those play-off aspirations.

So far, Edinburgh have generally acquitted themselves well but have only once avoided defeat outside their West Lothian confines ( the thrilling Super Heat BSN Series victory at Ashfield) and an upturn in results on the road must be viewed a priority at this stage of the proceedings.

Of course, as things stand, all three of the opponents we're about to face sit above the Monarchs in the Championship table but at least the riders go into the sequence with experience of having come up against each of them in recent months.

First up is a visit to Lincolnshire where the home men will be keen for revenge and are a very different animal on their home shale.

Jake Allen, Kyle Howarth and Simon Lambert did enough last week to suggest they might prove a totally different proposition in the more familiar surroundings of their own Eddie Wright Arena while at reserve Luke Harrison returns after missing out last week to partner ever improving Nathan Ablitt.

Michael Palm Toft's absence continues again rider replacement in operation with all of the home men eligible for a ride.

The Championship encounter is then followed by a National League clash as the Monarchs Academy take on the combined Scunthorpe/Sheffield squad.

It has not been the start to the season anyone wanted or expected for Scott Wilson's outfit with points still to be secured.

The Armadale outfit head south with a full line-up with a small change in the riding order seeing Dayle Wood and Mason Watson swap places at 2 and 4 respectively.

Simon Lambert is team boss for the hosts with his side led by Scorpions reserve pair Ablitt and Harrison.

Elsewhere there are some familiar names with Mickie Simpson and Sheldon Davies in the second string positions.

Known speedway names are abound at the bottom end as well where Stene Pijper and Kean Dicken are in residence. Stene's older brother Ace would normally be in attendance also but he misses out as he will be on Championship duty for Glasgow.

For those unable to make it the Championship encounter can be streamed here https://tv.scunthorpe-speedway.com/ with live updates for both matches available on the official Monarchs website.