Academy Go Top With Win At Boro

Stellar Monarchs fired themselves to the top of the National Development League on Sunday afternoon beating hosts Middlesbrough 47-43 to secure all three points.

A true team effort saw 5 of the 6 Academy men take at least one win or paid win with special mention perhaps reserved for Sam McGurk with his finest match for the Academy and 16-year-old debutant Jordy Loftus who raced to paid 13.

These efforts were matched throughout the side though leaving team boss Scott Wilson to say after, "I'm delighted with the win, the boys put in a terrific display, on a tricky track, against a good side. It takes us top of the league which of course is nice.

"Sam was our standout performer today, he rode with such determination, making some good starts and passing when he needed to - it was great to see.

"Of course all eyes were on Jordy who I thought performed very well. He was tiring in the second half of the meeting but he kept scoring points so I kept putting him out!

"We covered the rider replacement fairly well and I arranged things in such a way that we would finish strong, which we did.

"We have a bit of a break now before our next meeting so it was great to go into that on a high."

Despite the final outcome Wilson's day got off to the worst possible start as home number one Ace Pijper started his unbeaten day rocketing from the start to take the win, with teammate Jamie Halder backing him up the home side were four up.

Loftus then won his maiden heat in British speedway and the signs were the Academy would have a punch at reserve.

The home lead was two when returning Dayle Wood who put in a terrific performance to record paid 14 this coming only three weeks since suffering a wrist fracture and McGurk raced off for a 5-1 to give the visitors their first lead.

This was immediately reversed in the next heat but it would be the Monarchs who finished strongest.

Four down going into heat 11 back to back heat maximums first from Connor Coles and Mark Parker then McGurk and Loftus meant the Academy were four up with three races to go.

With Pijper due out in two of these the job wasn't done yet but Coles and Wood would split the Tiger from teammate Danny Phillips in heat 13 and when Tom Spencer came down in heat 14 the resulting 4-2 for the Academy sealed the deal.

Pijper duly completed his maximum with the move of the day to pass Wood to win the last race but this was of no harm for the Academy as they gathered The spoils and now sit proudly atop the standings with four of ten fixtures complete.

Middlesbrough Tigers 43: A Pijper 15, Halder 5+2, Ward 0, Spencer 8, Phillips 3, S Pijper 5, Rathbone 7+2

Stellar Monarchs Academy 47: Coles 8, Parker 3+2, McGurk 13+1, Wood 13+1, Loftus 10+3, Harrison 0

Academy Back In Action

While all eyes of the speedway world have been firmly planted in Manchester this weekend, and what a treat it served up! It's back to business on Sunday for the Stellar Monarchs Academy as they head to Redcar to take on the Middlesbrough Tigers in NDL action.

The sides having met already this season with the Academy coming out on top 48-42 in a tight encounter at Armadale.

There are a couple changes to the Academy line-up since that encounter back in April with the most intriguing perhaps being the debut of recent acquisition Jordy Loftus.

The young Aussie inserted into the team to replace the injured Kyran Lyden.

Elsewhere Dayle Wood returns from a fractured wrist suffered at Oxford just three weeks ago.

One other absentee comes in the form of Matt Marson who has had to return to Australia due to a family bereavement.

Rider replacement covers for Marson with all of the Academy barring number one Connor Coles able to cover.

The hosts are at full strength albeit with a revised riding order since the last encounter with Ace Pijper now heading up a compact looking outfit.

A win for either takes them second in the table with the bonus point up for grabs also.

Tapes up is at 3pm with a live stream available from https://www.redcar-speedway.tv