SPEEDWAY RETURNS AT LAST

NEWS Tuesday 13th May 2014, 8:48pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After what seems like ages but will actually only be a fortnight, speedway returns to Armadale on Friday as the unbeaten Scotwaste Monarchs take on the highly rated Ipswich Witches.

Both teams should be at full strength for a match between two sides who have developed something of a rivalry in the last couple of seasons and who have been involved in the latter stages of several competitions. Monarchs will be trying to extend their amazing run of 11 successive victories so far, but will certainly not be over-confident against a team with no shortage of talent.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 16th MAY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Steve Worrall.

IPSWICH WITCHES: Richie Worrall, Gino Manzares, Morten Risager, Cameron Heeps, Rohan Tungate, Adam Ellis, Ritchie Hawkins.

THE RECORD RUN: It’s unlikely that anyone would have predicted it at the start of the season but the victory at Plymouth on Saturday made it 11 wins out of 11 for Monarchs so far this season.

This beats the previous club record of 10 successive wins in 2003. We have asked the sport’s most eminent statistician Peter Oakes to research the longest run in the 18 seasons of the Premier League!

But for now the team obviously aim to extend their own record each time they race a match. It surely must end sometime – but when?

CHILDREN’S EVENING: We are always pleased to be part of the community events in West Lothian.

This week, we host Children's Evening at Armadale Speedway in association with the Armadale Gala Day Committee.

The 2013 Queen of Hearts, Madison and her Champion Scott will make their final public engagement before passing on their titles at the 2014 Children’s Gala in the middle of June.

We'll have a bouncy castle, face painter and a free gift for every child to take home!

AARON’S AVERAGE: Aaron Fox has now acquired a true average of 3.00 having completed 4 home and 4 away matches. Actually with bonus points he would be averaging more than 3.5 but without bonus, he is under 3 and so gets the 3-point minimum.

PREMIER LEAGUE: It’s very early days of course, but with three matches raced, the Scotwaste Monarchs are top of the Premier League by a margin of four points!

WITCHES ARE A TOP TEAM: In spite of a couple of poor results recently, there is no doubt that Ipswich should be one of the leading contenders for honours in the Premier League this season.

They were in the Playoffs last year as well as finalists in the League Cup, and look even stronger this time round. Their two new riders this season are paired together in the opening pair, top English prospect Richie Worrall (Steve’s twin brother of course) and exciting American newcomer Gino Manzares.

Aussies Rohan Tungate and Cameron Heeps are both highly rated, and smooth riding Dane Morten Risager has a good Armadale record.

Reserve Adam Ellis is a key man in his second full season. He has missed a number of matches due to doubling up with Lakeside in the Elite League but he will be in place for the Witches on Friday.

Witches were surprise non-qualifiers for the League Cup semis, and were well beaten at Somerset recently, but they certainly have the ability to bounce back and cause Monarchs problems.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs last raced at Armadale a fortnight ago when they beat Scunthorpe 59-34. Craig Cook was unbeaten for Monarchs.

NEXT MEETING: There are no away matches for the team so the next match is the visit of Newcastle Diamonds to Armadale on Friday 23rd May. They have recently signed UK International Danny King, and they won at Armadale twice last season!