Busy Weekend On The Road

PREVIEW Thursday 25th June 2026, 7:00pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It is a busy weekend for Edinburgh Monarchs fans, officials and riders alike as they travel the length and breadth of the country with two fixtures in as many days that could well be crucial come seasons end.

Results elsewhere coupled with the home draw to Scunthorpe last time out have left the Monarchs playing catch-up a little in their playoff hunt and an improvement in away performances is required as they head first to Redcar on Friday night then onto Plymouth on Saturday evening looking to catapult back towards the top of the table.

It would be fair to say that scores away from Armadale have perhaps not been as expected so far with the excellent win at Glasgow the only time the Blue and Gold have held a home team to less than 50 points so far.

This needs to change and the first chance is Friday night on Teeside as the Monarchs take on the home Redcar Bears.

A big boost to the camp coming in the form of the return of captain Paco Castagna, the Italian now having come through a couple of meetings since returning form a thumb injury and looking to get back to business.

The Redcar circuit is no stranger to this Monarchs outfit as they have already visited the Ecco Arena this year going down 51-39 in the KO Cup on a night where conditions certainly weren't to anyone whether home or away's liking.

There were strong performances for Kye Thomson, Castagna and Jonatan Grahn and confidence can be taken from if these continue again that Dan Thomson and Justin Sedgmen will surely improve from the nine recorded between them and that will put the Monarchs in a strong position with reserve pairing Mitch Cluff and Jordy Loftus also looking to get involved in the point scoring.

While it is the delight of a full septet for the Monarchs there is one change to the normal line-up for the home men with Ace Pijper away on SGP2 qualifying duty. Rider replacement operates for the young Scot with Simon Lambert and strong reserve pairing Jake Mulford and Jody Scott able to deputise.

Elsewhere the Bears will be led by Nicolai Klindt with solid back-up from Jason Edwards and Jake Allen as they look to build on a good week having taken a home win and bonus point against the Oxford Cheetahs.

This a much needed boost after a trio of losses to start their league campaign which leaves them at the foot looking up currently.

After Friday it is the long trek down the M5 (376 miles door to door from Redcar to Plymouth) to take on the Gladiators on Saturday night.

The Devon men another who will fancy themselves as playoff contenders as they currently sit in 5th albeit only on points difference to the Monarchs.

It has been a strong start to the league campaign with home wins over Oxford and Scunthorpe and an away win at Workington to their name already.

Their can't be a more experienced heat leader duo in the league than Danny King and Scott Nicholls both seeming ageless as they continue to rack up the points and with Ben Barker named to ride after recent tumbles the top end of the Gladiators take some beating.

That is not to say the bottom end is any worse off as Anze Grmek looks to make his way in the UK after replacing the luckless Tobias Thomsen who suffered serious injury early in the season and 'well-kent face' Ben Whalley a recent introduction at number seven, the Monarchs Academy man yet to get of the mark at Championship level but showing his pedigree by passing Anders Rowe in his debut only for Rowe to get back in front of the Kiwi and hold on for the point.

Joe Thompson and Daniel Kilma perhaps are the key men in the Gladiators line-up with both capable of brilliance but also capable of off nights albeit coming into this one on the back of strong performances with Thompson in particular putting in the best night of his season as the Gladiators dispatched Oxford last weekend.

So, a pair of tricky looking fixtures for the Monarchs this weekend but matches in which the points can be accrued as a full and hopefully fit and fire head on the road a large Monarchs contingent expected on the terraces to cheer on the boys.

Friday 26th June 19:30

Redcar Bears : Nicolai Klindt, Ace Pijper R/R, Simon Lambert, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen, Jake Mulford, Jody Scott

Edinburgh Monarchs : Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus

Live Stream - https://live.redcar-speedway.com/

Saturday 27th June 19:00

Plymouth Gladiators : Danny King, Joe Thompson, Daniel Kilma, Ben Barker, Scott Nicholls, Anze Grmek, Ben Whalley

Edinburgh Monarchs : Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus

Live Stream - https://www.gladiatorslive.com/