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PREVIEW Wednesday 22nd May 2019, 1:00pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs start their away league campaign this week with a trip down the M6 and a visit to the Birmingham Brummies.

The Brummies are a famous name in the sport but have had a bit of an up and down few years with regards their league placing having tasted action in all 3 divisions but under the ownership of former rider David Mason among others this year it was decided the time was right to step back up into the second tier for the first time since 2010.

Early results have not been to the managements liking with 7 defeats in 7 matches so far this in turn has led to a change in line-up with the top end being bolstered with the addition of Adam Ellis at no 1 a further change being necessitated meaning Nathan Stoneman coming in at reserve, Kyle Newman and Tobias Thomsen being the riders to make way from the initial septet.

The Brummies will hoping these changes give a better balance to the team as they look to kick start their season. The major benefit for the Brummies being that only 1 of those 7 defeats came in the league that being away at Sheffield so they still have time on their side to aim for the playoffs.

As mentioned earlier Ellis will now lead the way at number 1 with the domino effect meaning the rest of a solid top 5 should now be in more comfortable positions. The experienced Ulrich Ostergaard will now slot into second heat leader while the young trio of Ashley Morris, James Shanes and Zach Wajtknecht make up the engine room. As is often the case with younger riders and obviously with the results not going the Brummies way so far this trio have been inconsistent, however all have noted talent with Morris a former Monarch, Shanes so impressive at Armadale last year and Wajtknacht sure to benefit from a training session with 3 time world champ Jason Crump just this week.

The addition of Stoneman at reserve means added pressure on senior reserve Paco Castagna but so far the Italian has probably been the main shining light for the midland's men, their were more than a few who questioned the return to British speedway of Castagna but newly focussed and looking fitter than ever the former Sheffield and Ipswich racer is currently averaging over 6 so this should not concern him at all.

For the Staggs Bar Monarchs it will be a case of a trip into the unknown for a chunk of the team although there is Perry Barr experience in the ranks, Ricky, Justin, Willie all have had numerous meetings there while Luke has the most recent experience from the National League last year. Cameron is coming off a fantastic week with his match saving heat 13 ride against Leicester last Friday then being backed up with an 11 point score guesting for Sheffield and that impressive 15 point haul on BT Sport on Monday night. Josh and Joel will be making their Perry Barr debuts but again the nature of the circuit should not faze either.

So a match that could have a big bearing on the Monarchs league season despite it's earliness in the campaign, to make the playoffs come September away points will be required and what a great start it would be to get some on the board early.

Can the boys do it? For those not in attendance the Monarchs official website is the place to be for all updates and for those that are there make sure to make extra noise to cheer on the boys!

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