Panthers 2018 Image Credit: Steve Hone

Scott Nicholls and the Panthers this week

PREVIEW Wednesday 2nd May 2018, 5:01pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs race their first Championship match of the season at Armadale this Friday against Peterborough – and that means that six times British Champion Scott Nicholls comes to Armadale for just the second time – twenty years after his first visit!

Scott was racing back then for England Under-21 in a 1998 Test Match against Scotland which is still rated one of the best matches ever seen at the stadium. He has had a World-class career which has included Grand Prix, and he is far from a spent force, still riding well in the UK Premiership for Rye House. His battles with the home heat leaders are likely to be well worth watching.

Monarchs welcome back their flying skipper Erik Riss who missed last Friday, and of course Ricky Wells will be looking to repeat his superb 5-ride maximum of last Friday. Lower down the order, the less experienced home men have another chance to impress as they increase their knowledge of their home circuit.

Panthers have two riders away on Danish League duty. They will use rider replacement for Ulrich Ostergaard and Newcastle's Carl Wilkinson comes in to guest for Emil Grondal.

Alex Harkess commented "We welcome Peterborough which is a club we have always been very friendly with. It's our first league match and it is very important to get off to the right start, I think that is crucial for us. As much as I'm disappointed that Erik didn't qualify for the European Challenge I'm delighted he will be riding for us, we know what he is capable of."

Our American Max Ruml didn't differentiate the Panthers from any other side when asked about the match. He said ""I'll do my best every race, we all hope to beat everybody. Each rider is just another number on the back. When the next match is over that will be the last one."

THIS WEEK'S MATCH:

Friday 4th May Staggs Bar Monarchs v Peterborough Panthers (Championship) 7:30pm

Teams for Friday:

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Ricky Wells, Joel Andersson, Mark Riss, Max Ruml, Erik Riss (capt.), Matt Williamson, Josh Pickering.

PETERBOROUGH T BALFE CONSTRUCTION PANTHERS: Scott Nicholls, Carl Wilkinson, Nike Lunna, Michael Palm Toft, Ulrich Ostergaard rider replacement, Tom Bacon, Simon Lambert (capt.).

SIXTIES NIGHT

As part of our 70th birthday celebrations we will be looking back on the 1960s during Friday's match.

Monarchs' riders of the era Doug Templeton, Bert Harkins and Gordon Mitchell will be attending the event and there will be special posters available showing Bert and Doug in action in 1965.

There will be a special 1960s DVD on sale (£10) which the Gold and Blue card members can get at reduced rates.