Jordy on his way to a paid win Image Credit: Dave Payne

Bonus Gained At Workington

REPORT Saturday 16th August 2025, 9:12pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Stellar Monarchs playoff position was strengthened but not secured as they went down 47-43 at Workington on Saturday securing the bonus point in the process.

The feeling in the camp being this was one that got away though as the Monarchs held a six point lead as late as after heat eight.

The Comets would power to a trio of 5-1's to follow that giving them the platform to hold on as Monarchs captain Paco Castagna exhaled after 'What can I say, it is a shame we lost, heats nine, ten and eleven kill us completely.

'I feel like we should have won and got all three points but it is not all negative.

'Some of us had a good night, some of us a bad one but again we do it as a team. I felt we were stronger overall we just let the meeting get away from us in those heats.

'We got the bonus though so it's not all bad and that helps us for the playoffs'

Castagna was in fine form as he raced to a paid 12 score and the Monarchs still had a chance at a draw as the match got to heat 15.

The Monarchs captain and top scorer on the night Jonatan Grahn had secured a heat 14 5-1 but despite a fantastic first lap to hit the front from Grahn, Castagna could not find a way through and the Comets held on.

There were moments for some of the rest of the Monarchs also, Kye Thomson starting well with two heat wins and Grahn showing his liking for the Northside circuit once again on his way to 13.

Early star of the show was Jordy Loftus taking two paid wins to start his night with sharp gating, smart first corners and determined rides thereafter.

The home side were led by their top three Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke and Antti Vuolas who raced to paid 34 between them, this a sharp contrast to the paid 8 return of the top three in the Monarchs averages.

So, close but no cigar and an aggregate bonus point that in the grand scheme of things should see the Monarchs playoff berth secure albeit this not quite mathematically guaranteed yet.


Full Result Details