Dayle Back at the 'Dale

NEWS Sunday 14th January 2024, 12:30pm

by Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

Determined Dayle Wood is back with Stellar Monarchs Academy for a second season of National Development League racing in 2024.

In his first UK season Wood proved to be a popular character though took time to find his feet in British racing. This caused pause for thought ahead of the new season, Wood said, "I did have doubts about whether I'd be coming back at the end of the season as I hadn't done as well as I had wanted to and wasn't sure what was going to happen for 2024.

"I have put in all the hard work, time, money and effort and to not come back after a not so good first UK season I think would be giving up too easy. When Edinburgh offered me a spot I couldn't say no."

Wood holds dual nationality with both Australian and British passports which Dayle has been putting to good use over the winter, "Racing back in Australia has been pretty busy and I have been scoring OK.

"My plans from now until the UK season are to keep working hard, training on and off the bike and do as many meetings as I can so when it comes time to start the UK season I'll hit the ground running and ready to go."

Stellar Monarchs Academy manager Scott Wilson has encouraged Wood to seize the opportunity, "I'm extremely pleased to have Dayle back with the Academy for 2024. He was a pleasure to work with last year and the improvement in him from April to September was clear to see.

"He and I have spoken about him taking on more responsibility and leadership this year, which is something he is keen to embrace.

"It's a big year for Dayle and if the team is going to be successful we will need him to perform at a heat leader level. He must do this to achieve his own goals and ambitions too, so he will be determined to be a big points scorer for us this season."

Dayle Wood is the fifth rider to be announced in the seven rider Stellar Monarchs Academy team set to contest the 2024 National Development League.

2024 Stellar Monarchs Academy: Sam McGurk, Connor Coles, Kyran Lyden, Mark Parker, Dayle Wood.