Serious Erik - he's always serious Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

Champ Erik Back With Monarchs For 2017

NEWS Sunday 27th November 2016, 0:39am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Our German star Erik Riss, double World Longtrack Champion, tonight became the first rider for the 2017 Monarchs’ team to be announced.

Erik made the announcement himself over Scott Wilson’s disco setup at the Monarchs 100 Race Night at the Corn Exchange. Not that Erik was there – he was at the FIM Gala in Berlin where the high-achievers of 2016 in motorcycling were being honoured. Alex Harkess was there alongside him (in his capacity as BSPA President) so it was too good a chance to miss for a linkup.

After first announcing that he was signing for a certain other Championship side, Erik got serious and said “Yes I am back with the Monarchs in 2017 and I am very happy about that. I intend to do better than I did in 2016.”

There really couldn’t be any serious complaints about how Erik did for us last season – he started the year with a 5.22 average from his debut season, and hiked that up in 2016 to 6.85. The smart money says that figure will increase next season.

Erik hopes to be busier in 2017 and stated before the end of the season that he would like to double up in the UK. He added “If I get a club, then I just want to do the UK. If I don’t get a club then I might do Denmark again.”

There should be further signing announcements in the near future.

The Monarchs 100 Fundraising Group announced that they had raised a superb £1950 from tonight’s Race Night, and they also stated that their next event will be a light-hearted Burns Supper on Saturday 28th January in the Mayflower, Loanhead (just round the corner from Ian Paterson's Museum).

All signings subject to BSPA approval.