Tough Task Tonight

PREVIEW Thursday 19th May 2016, 5:27pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After our successful start to the KO cup campaign last weekend it’s back to league duty on Thursday night as we make the long trek to take on the Ipswich Tru7.Com Witches

The Witches have had a mixed start to the season but there are signs some of their riders are starting to turn things around and they are starting to look more like the side that was tipped to be playoff contenders at the start of the season

Surprisingly the Witches have been vulnerable round their Foxhall home with two home defeats already this season and they will be looking to turn this around starting against the Border Roofing Monarchs this week.

One of the main issues for the Witches so far this season has been the form of number 1 Danny King. Many thought Danny would be the top man in the league this year after Craig Cook stepped up to the Elite League this has not been the case though and King himself has admitted that the impending birth of his second child was having an effect on his form. Danny and his partner have now welcomed a baby Boy into the world and Danny will be looking to get back to his imperious best.

Number 2 for the Suffolk side is James Sergeant. ‘Jumping James’ is no stranger to the Blue and Gold faithful after his successful spell with Glasgow last year and while this year has been a bit of a struggle so far as he looks to cement his place in the top 5 of the team we all know that when he has his gating boots on that James can be a force to be reckoned with and he had his strongest match of the season last week running of three heat wins out of his four races.

At number 3 is Lewis Kerr. It has to be said how happy everyone is just to see Lewis back on the bike apparently suffering no long lasting after effects of his horrific crash at Peterborough in the Fours final last year. Lewis is another who has had an inconsistent start to the season but again appears to be rounding into form with a couple of heat wins to his name round his home shale last week.

Joining Kerr in the engine room of the Witches line-up is experienced Dane Morten Risager. Risager has been around the UK scene since 2004 having and has multitudes of Elite and Premier league experience. He has rejoined Ippo after a spell at Plymouth last year and is another that on his day is truly electric he is also coming off his most impressive performance of the season racing to 11 points in the Witches KO Cup defeat at Rye House last Saturday.

At number 5 in a pretty cosmopolitan looking Ippo line-up is Argentinean racer Nico Covatti. Covatti took a massive leap forward last year and is looking to build on that further this year. So far he has not disappointed and is consistently good for double figures round the Foxhall circuit.

Senior reserve is Paco Castagna. One of the most famous surnames in world speedway the young Italian is of course the son of former World Finalist Armando Castagna. It has to be said that Paco is perhaps a slower developer than his father was but he is progressing year on year and at 22 years old he still has time on his side.

A change to the Ipswich line-up see a replacement at number 7 as out goes Darryl Ritchings who is replaced by Oliver Greenwood. ‘Ollie’ would have thought himself unlucky not to pick up a team place at the start of the season after spells with Peterborough and Somerset last season. Ollie has his chance now though and he will be looking to make it count starting against the Monarchs in this match.

Hoping to keep the Witches rocking at home this year will be our battered Blue and Gold heroes. We go into the match missing our number 2 and key man so far this season Erik Riss. Erik took a heavy tumble in a GP qualifier back in Germany on Monday and while the diagnosis is thankfully no broken bones the young German is still not up to getting back in the saddle and is a major doubt for both his individual world under 21 qualifier and our away trip to Rye House this weekend also. Due to the variances of the rolling averages despite being in the best form of his life Erik’s average has actually dropped from the start of the season and this means he is currently fifth in our averages. This means Erik is probably the hardest man to replace as only rider replacement can be utilised with rides being shared between Jye and the reserves. With the best will in the world this massively weakens the Monarchs as we would have looked to Erik to continue his torrid start to the season.

Also in the wars last week was Flyin Ryan Fisher. The testimonial had a big crash at Plymouth but was able to limp on and help us through to the next round. The rest of the boys showed some good form last week none more so than the captain Sam Masters. Sam only dropped one point over the two matches and was the catalyst for our progression. Kevin was as dependable as ever rattling off 20 points over the two legs and there was progression to be seen from Dan and Jye particularly at Armadale on Friday night where Dan got his first paid win for the Blue and Gold and this should have been repeated by Jye but for him to come off while comfortably holding off Nielsen and Simota in heat 9.

Another who will be happy with his weekend’s work was Max Clegg. Max had been suffering from a crisis of confidence but was at his exciting best on Friday night passing the Devils for fun and this was backed up by his best away performance of the season at Plymouth where he was paid for 9 points. Max will be a key man in this tussle as we look to him to potentially take the full 7 rides in Erik’s absence.

So a depleted Monarchs line-up head south facing a team that will feel it is due its home fans a performance. It would take a brave man to bet on the Monarchs coming home with the spoils but one thing is for sure as many of these riders have shown us time and time again they will go into this meeting with no fear and looking to do just that.

Full Result Details