WAITING FOR ONE MAN

NEWS Friday 22nd March 2013, 7:05pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs introduced their 2013 team to press and sponsors in Bathgate this afternoon, but there were just six riders in the lineup.

Craig Cook, Theo Pijper, Derek Sneddon, Max Fricke, Jozsef Tabaka and Marcel Helfer lined up in the new race jacket, but the man who should have joined them, Sam Masters, is still in Australia.

Introducing the team, John Campbell said “We do have a very big problem with Sam who has been refused a visa because of a new rule. He is very unlucky and we feel very sorry for him. The club’s local MP Michael Connarty has taken up his case and we have not given up, but of course we are now very close to the start of the season, and we can’t start with six riders next Friday.”

Danish rider Claus Vissing was in the room and discussions have now taken place with him, with a view to introducing him into the team in time for the opening match.

One important factor will be finding accommodation for Claus who wants to base himself in the area, so John Campbell asks “If anyone can help us out with accommodation that would be vital in coming to an agreement with Claus. Ideally he would be looking for workshop facilities also.

“We can be contacted on info@edinburghmonarchs.co or on 07977 151612, and we do need to move quickly.”

Already staying in the area and successfully housed are Hungarian Jozsef Tabaka, German Marcel Helfer and 16 year old Aussie Max Fricke, whose parents are with him for the first month of the season.

The team were in good spirits and most of them will be together over the weekend with a karting event involving supporters tomorrow morning, and a visit to the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey on Sunday.

Craig Cook though will be setting off to race at Eastbourne on Saturday evening if the fixture against Belle Vue beats the weather.

The practise session scheduled for this evening was called off due to the snow in West Lothian and the team might have to go into the opening match without having ridden on the track.