Monarchs fall in last heat decider

REPORT Friday 26th June 2026, 10:46pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Redcar is a popular track with visiting riders and can always be targeted as a possible away win. We were well in the hunt as we led 22-20 after seven heats. However over the remaining races it slipped away from us, and in spite of a heat 14 5-1 from Kye and Paco which set up a last race decider, we lost out to a home maximum in that one.

Team boss John Campbell said 'Nothing went right for us on the night. From Mitch's engine failing just before heat two, Jonatan not bing able to ride his number one all night due to. electrical problems, and refereeing decisions going against us particularly the Jordy decision in heat 12. Our riders tried so hard that they got in each other's way. Just not our night.

Ace Pijper was missing due to his SGP2 commitment, but Redcar have such strong reserves this is not a problem for them.

The opening heat was one of the best of the night, won by Jonatan Grahn with a bit to spare, but everyone was watching the other three riders who battled for all four laps. Dan could well have finished second, or fourth, but in the end it was a hard-won point.

The early stages were quite chaotic with riders making last minute changes of machinery, and a couple of heats stopped for what we were told were "technical problems", but we were gating well and more than holding our own. Sedgmen won heats three and seven with smooth starts, Dan took heat 5 and Kye thundered to victory in heat four.

Paco's point in heat seven got us that two point advantage but that was lost right away with a heat 8 1-5. Kye had another high-speed win in heat 9 but we weren't closing the gap.

Our reserves had been struggling but heat twelve looked as though it might be different! Jordy stormed ahead and led for a couple of laps (with Sedgmen at the back) until dive-bombed by Jody Scott. Jordy swung wide and came off beside the fence, and the chance was lost with a 5-1 awarded.

Heat 13 was shared behind Klindt which left us in a position to bring Kye in as a tac sub in heat 14, a Monarchs 5-1.

Klindt took his fourth race win in the last heat decider backed up by Jody Scott, and this time Dan and Kye could do nothing to stop them.

Full Result Details