Palovaara Brilliant Again But Tigers Can't Be Tamed

REPORT Friday 9th May 2025, 10:12pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It was close but no cigar once again for the Stellar Monarchs albeit with no last heat decider needed this time as the host Tigers ran out 50-40 victors, heat 14 and 15 heat maximums giving the scoreline its final gloss.

In truth it was perhaps remarkable that the Monarchs were still in contention at this stage given that only the brilliant Victor Palovaara had taken a checkered flag throughout.

The Swede again excellent with strong gating and smart riding on his way to 16 points.

There was back-up from Justin Sedgmen who was involved in some fantastic battles with the home men on his way to paid 12.

The Monarchs number one saying after, ''The track was good but when I was hitting the front I just didn't know where to ride.

''Obviously we won here the last time we came and that was their first meeting, they've had a lot of laps since then and that's what we need but that was probably our worst match of the year and it wasn't a heat 15 decider it was a heat 14 decider.''

The home men were never behind and with Chris Harris and Leon Flint in imperious unbeaten form the majority of the heat wins were going the Tigers way from the off.

Palovaara taking the only win in the first seven races for the Monarchs in heat two, a race that saw home reserve Max Perry come off while trying to pass Matt Marson meaning a Monarchs heat advantage.

The strong middle order of Flint and Dan Thompson who had an unusual off night after took a heat three maximum and it was a lead the Tigers would never relinquish.

The group winners would stretch their lead to eight after heat seven with the best of the action coming from Harris who wasn't gating at his best but finding his way to the front for fun either on the inside or out.

While the Tigers were providing the majority of the heat winners they were struggling to stretch their lead with only six in it when Palovaara and Sedgmen got the best of Kyle Howarth in heat 11 to take a 5-1 of their own and bring it to within two.

A pair of shared heats would follow with drama in heat 13 as Oskar Polis and Howarth came down, the Tiger disqualified his night finished with a shoulder injury.

Again though Harris would brilliantly take the win in the re-run so the gap remained the same.

The penultimate heat would put paid to the Monarchs hopes though as Flint and Freddy Hodder who was more than competitive throughout rocketed from the start to seal the win.

Harris and Flint then completed their maximums rounding Sedgmen on consecutive laps to gain another maximum that meant the largest gap of the night to finish.

So, with the BSN Series group now complete and semi final qualification beyond them the Monarchs attention now turns to league duty and the visit of reigning champions Poole to kick things off.

Glasgow 50: Harris 15, Boughen 2, Thompson 5+1, Flint 14+1, Howarth 7, Hodder 6+1, Perry 1

Stellar Monarchs 40: Sedgmen 11+1, Thomson 1, Grahn 0, Castagna 5+1, Polis 5+3, Palovaara 16, Marson 2+1

Full Result Details