Speedway back at Armadale at last

NEWS Thursday 10th July 2025, 9:44am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs have an interesting Championship encounter against the Redcar Bears this Friday at Armadale as we are assured the sun will shine and the match will go ahead.

Redcar have won on their visits to the home of the Monarchs in the last two seasons, with a last heat 5-1 from Charles Wright and Danny King on both occasions. That pair are back on Friday!

Monarchs will be at full strength whereas the Bears will utilise two guest riders. Workington's Australian star Tate Zischke comes in for Erik Riss as the former Monarchs' captain is unwell, while wonderkid Will Cairns guests for Jake Mulford who is racing abroad.

Cairns has just reached 16 and has made a sensational start to his senior career. He is theoretically eligible to guest for any rider in the Championship.

When Friday's match starts it will be 35 days since we last saw Speedway at Armadale, due to the British Grand Prix, an away fixture and two postponements. This equals the record gap between home fixtures in Monarchs' 77 year history. It has happened twice before (2012 and 2023). There are three points available on Friday with Monarchs needing to win by more than 10 to take the aggregate bonus.

Recent signing Michael Palm Toft was formerly with Redcar but is determined to take three points from his old team. "Definitely, I would have liked to have left Redcar with something and I thought we could have done that so for me it was a bit disappointing to get beaten by 10 overall. On Friday we need to get that little bit extra and go for the bonus point as well as the win."

Friday's match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 11th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus.

AGILIA BEARS: Charles Wright (Capt.), Will Cairns, Jason Edwards, Tate Zischke, Danny King, Jody Scott, Ace Pijper.

The Championship match will be followed by a Northern Junior League match between the West Lothian Wildcats and the Redcar Cubs.

Full Result Details