Title Partner
Agg: 84
Agg: 96
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: Alex Harkess |
55 | ||||||||
| 1. Josh Pickering | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2. Kye Thomson | 1* | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2* | 8 | 2 | ||
| 3. Lasse Fredriksen | 3 | 1* | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 1 | ||
| 4. Paco Castagna | 2* | 2 | 2* | 2 | 3 | 1* | 12 | 3 | |
| 5. Justin Sedgmen | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 6. Max James | 2* | 0 | 1* | 1 | 4 | 2 | |||
| 7. Connor Coles | 3 | 1* | 1* | 1* | 1 | 7 | 3 | ||
Workington Comets
Team Manager: James Denholm |
35 | ||||||||
| 1. Craig Cook | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2. Tate Zischke - Rider Replacement | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 3. Antti Vuolas | 1 | 0 | 1 | FD | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 4. Laylan Richardson | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 5. Troy Batchelor | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 | |||
| 6. Mason Watson | 0 | R | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 7. Sam McGurk | FD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | FD | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Tonight's match should have been one of the highlights of the Armadale season, but circumstances conspired to turn it into a rather scrappy and unsatisfactory event with both teams weakened. We heard beforehand that Claus Vissing and Celina Liebmann had been caught out by the World Computer outage causing their flights to be cancelled, with junior replacements.
To make matters worse the very unfortunate Justin Sedgmen was then brought down in heat 4 when McGurk and Coles clashed, with McGurk's bike racing across the first bend and careering into Sedgmen who had made a smooth start and was leading into the turn.
That was the end of Sedgy's night, with Injury Rider Replacement applying. Comets' problems might have made us think we had a chance of overturning their 32 point advantage for the aggregate bonus but that possibility definitely receded after losing Sedgmen, who is confident he has no serious injuries but went off for a checkup.
Team boss Alex Harkess said "The way things were Comets only had two riders to give us any problem, was the way we were looking at it. I was disappointed for the second meeting running that we lost heat 12, I thought we should have won that one. These guys have got to start stepping up against the lesser opposition in that race.
"It was a great shame to lose Sedgy in his first race through no fault of his own. The rest beat who they should have beaten, and Max James falling was the only last place we got."
Monarchs had been on a 5-1 in the early stages of heat 1, but Pickering and Thomson didn't combine well and Cook grabbed second by slipping inside Kye. McGurk then went under the fence and caused the heat to be stopped, something he managed on three occasions during the night. The rerun went to Cook.
The next two heats were home 5-1s as we assumed control, then came Sedgmen's misfortune. Once again the arrangement to have two ambulances at our meetings limited the delay and the racing was soon under way.
Craig Cook was in fine form as usual, winning his first four heats, and with Batchelor taking 8 from his first three rides it never looked likely that we could reach the 62 points needed to take the bonus. We did manage to stop Batchelor when Fredriksen and Castagna both passed him in heat 9 - Troy then came to a halt and took no further rides.
We managed to take one point from Craig Cook when Josh Pickering got the better of him in heat 13 – this was one of Sam McGurk's stoppages so Josh had to do the job twice. The third Comets' heat leader Antti Vuolas did not really get to grips with our track other than that heat 12 win.
Monarchs had five riders paid for double figures but for obvious reasons, it was not really a night for celebrations.
The Stellar Monarchs are back in Championship action on Friday evening as the Workington Comets make their first visit to Armadale at this level since 2018 looking to quell any aim of the home men moving up the table.
The Comets are chasing a playoff position but come into this one undermanned, Tate Zischke saw his season end at Belle Vue the other week with a list of horrific sounding injuries that everyone hopes will not hinder a very promising start to his European career. Rider replacement in operation with all other Comets apart from number one Craig Cook eligible.
A further blow for the Comets came with the news that Claus Vissing cannot be in attendance, the former Monarch man's flight to the UK being grounded by the global IT issues affecting many, at time of writing Claus' replacement had not been confirmed.
Elsewhere the visitors are led by Monarchs legend Craig Cook and with another former GP man Troy Batchelor providing the main back-up, Batchelor figuring to be key in this one with a potential minimum six ride night ahead.
Even giving for the absence of Zischke there will be a lot of intrigue within the rest of the line-up Antti Vuolas is another having a tremendous debut season in the UK his performances at the SON alongside the Comets gaining him interest from Belle Vue.
Celina Liebmann is trailblazing as the first female to ride at this level and while it has been a bit tougher going for the German than the likes of Vuolas and Zischke the FIM Gold Medal winner is getting better as the season progresses.
Sam McGurk is a Monarchs Academy rider also albeit having only had one home match at NDL level it may still be a relative trip into the unknown for the youngster.
On the home side of the pits it is as you were as a settled looking line-up takes the track, even though it has been two weeks since the last team action the Monarchs men have kept them selves busy with international and top level meetings for Josh Pickering and Justin Sedgmen, SON exploits for Paco, Swedish league action for Lasse and Kye and NDL work for Connor.
Max James the only that has not had any competitive action since the defeat to Redcar two weeks ago.
So, it is a settled and sharp Monarchs line-up that will go into action with tapes up at 19.30, the British Speedway Network in town to show all the action.
Thursday 18th July 2024, 10:45am
The Stellar Monarchs race the Championship newcomers Workington Comets at Armadale this Friday (7:30pm) which means that Monarchs' hero and legend Craig Cook is back in the colours of his local side. The Comets have been a thrilling addition to the Championship this season at their new venue, having returned in the National League in 2023 after being out of the sport since 2018.
Thursday 18th July 2024, 10:30am
Stellar Monarchs look forward to a big match on Friday against Workington Comets, and it is also a big night as focus is put on the Monarchs Fans Trust and the terrific work they do.
Sunday 14th July 2024, 4:00pm
Monarchs VIP Hospitality Summer Special has been extended offering a great deal on hospitality at the next two upcoming Monarchs fixtures!
© Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway 2024
Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
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