Speedway: Monarchs prepare for Tigers

May 28 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian-based speedway stars the Scotwaste Monarchs picked up four points in their league matches last weekend, and this Friday complete their Premier Trophy qualifiers with a visit from Glasgow Tigers.

Monarchs have already won the northern qualifying section, but the Tigers’ visit was rained off a fortnight ago and this is the restaging. Glasgow had been going very well until Monarchs went through to Ashfield and won in a match which clinched qualification.

Tigers will want to regain their earlier form and a good showing at Armadale would help with that. Shane Parker and James Grieves (if fit following a crash on his home track) are capable of pushing Monarchs very hard.

If Grieves isn’t fit (a leg injury was revealed to be severe bruising and no break after a hospital visit) then they have ample points to secure a quality guest such as Jason Lyons.

Much will then depend on how their promising Aussies Josh Grajczonek and Mitchell Davey perform.

Last Friday on a pleasingly sunny evening Monarchs found Scunthorpe tough opposition before they recorded a 51-40 win, enough to take all three match points under the new scoring system.

Then on Bank Holiday Monday in the return they showed plenty of fighting spirit to come back from a 14-point deficit and go into the last heat with a chance of winning.

In the end they lost out 49-44 but that was good enough to take a match point.

The hero in both matches was Bathgate’s Andrew Tully with a dozen points at Armadale and a whopping 16 in the return.

A new set of averages applies from Friday with Michal Rajkowski coming up into the top five and Aaron Summers dropping to reserve.

Before then Monarchs go to Sheffield on Thursday in the KO Cup, defending a lead of 59-31 from the Armadale leg.

Teams for Friday (riding order):

Scotwaste Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Michal Rajkowski, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Aaron Summers, Sean Stoddart.

Glasgow Tigers: Shane Parker, rider replacement for Ross Brady, Robin Tornquist, Josh Grajczonek, James Grieves, Mitchell Davey, AN Other.