The gruelling trek to Plymouth

PREVIEW Saturday 17th May 2025, 1:53pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Our riders, mechanics and management face the gruelling task of travelling to Plymouth in the 21 hours or so following the home match with Poole. As we now know, they will travel without Oskar Polis and use rider replacement for the departed Polish rider.

The Gladiators are a team something like ourselves, built for solidity and looking for every man to ride to his best form to compile a winning team score. That suggests a close match is likely – if the teams achieve what they are looking for. Plymouth have already beaten Poole this season so clearly are not a soft touch around their small circuit.

Gating is important everywhere but especially at the St Boniface Arena, the Coliseum, where we last won a couple of years ago. Our guest that night Erik Riss described his approach as "Make the gate and cruise around!" Usually sticking to the inside line is key as it is hard to pass on the outside.

Monarchs have young Sonny Springer as guest no. 7, a Leicester rider at National League level, and thank him for taking the booking.

Looking for form guides around Plymouth is not easy. Justin Sedgmen was a Plymouth rider briefly a few years ago and scored 14 for us there in 2014. Kye Thomson has been there four times for us, scored paid 25 on his first three visits but hit problems last year after he stopped while leading heat 1.

Paco Castagna scored 9 points there in 2023, and won a heat last season – you'd like to think his inside line ability should pay off there.

A lot depends on the home side of course! They have Nicolai Klindt who should be a top man in the Championship but who can be a little inconsistent. Ben Barker is a long time expert on their track, as is Alfie Bowtell at second string level. And of course we will be meeting Lasse Fredriksen our old pal, and you can pretty well bet that Lasse will do well!

The match will be live streamed on Plymouth's TV service.

Full Result Details