THREE NEW MEN FOR THE SCOTWASTE MONARCHS

NEWS Tuesday 17th July 2007, 6:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

In one of the most dramatic moves the club has ever made, Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs will line up against Mildenhall Fen Tigers on Friday with three new riders.

Coming into the side will be Kai Laukkanen (Finland), George Stancl (Czech Republic), and Kalle Katajisto (Finland).

Making way will be Ronnie Correy and Henrik Moller, in addition to Theo Pijper who was dropped from the side last week.

Monarchs' promoter John Campbell said ?Recent performances at home and away have not been good enough and changes had to be made. We see the riders coming in as fresh and exciting for our supporters.

?It is not easy telling riders that they are dropped, I appreciate they will be disappointed.?

Laukkanen started the season in the Elite League with Belle Vue but lost his place as the Aces struggled. He is a rider accustomed to competing at the top level and should be very capable of doing well in the Premier League.

The Finnish youngster Kalle Katajisto has been recommended by Laukkanen as an exceptional prospect. He has only started on 500cc this season after coming through 80cc racing as so many Scandinavians do.

George Stancl of course is very familiar as a regular race winner at Armadale in the colours of Glasgow and Newcastle.

American Ryan Fisher was also considered for a place, but he has had to be told that the decisions have gone elsewhere. Edinburgh Speedway wish him well in finding a place, as we do of course for Ronnie Correy, Henrik Moller and Theo Pijper.

Details of the new riders:

KAI LAUKKANEN: Born 8/4/75, Seinajoki, Finland. Kai has ridden for years at the highest level and was Nordic Champion in 2001, and a Grand Prix competitor in 2002. He first rode in the UK with Long Eaton in 1995-6, and has since been with Belle Vue plus a brief and successful spell with Glasgow at the end of 1998. He scored 6 points in the Grand Prix Qualification semi-final recently, and also 3 points in the opening World Cup meeting last weekend. Rides in the Swedish Elite League with Indianerna, Finnish club is Kotkat.

GEORGE STANCL: Born 19/8/75, Prague. Needs little introduction anywhere in the Premier League as he has been one of the leading riders in the division since joining Glasgow in 2002. Recent successes include a Premier Pairs victory plus an Ashfield classic, and he has Armadale maximums on his record. Believes he has conquered his mechanical problems and as a timely reminder of his ability, scored a paid maximum guesting for Newcastle last Sunday.

KALLE KATAJISTO: Born 24/4/91, Varkaus, Finland. He is in his first season of 500cc racing, having come through the ranks of 80cc in Scandinavia where he was three-times Finnish Champion. Was seventh in this year's Finnish Under 21 Final and seventh in the senior championship. Races in the Finnish League for Jokerit Kauhajoki and reached the semi-final of this year's European Under 19 Championship, finishing tenth.

(With thanks to the remarkable Peter Oakes for Katajisto details).

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