Monarchs on cloud nine after league win extends lead at top of pile

Jul 22 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE Armadale-based Scotwaste Monarchs are on Premier League cloud nine this week after a stunning win over title rivals Birmingham saw them extend their lead at the top.

The Monarchs rode brilliantly with Ryan Fisher in sensational form to deservedly take all three points. They beat the Jason Lyons-inspired Birmingham 54-41 to go a whopping nine points clear at the top of the table.

Fisher’s performance was breathtaking and included two last-bend overtakes which had the crowd gasping.

The match provided some of the best racing of the season, with some classy riding by Lyons, who engineered a heat-11 8-1 to bring the Brummies back into the match.

Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers and Kalle Katajisto all produced some exciting racing also and Monarchs were more than good value for their win.

Birmingham were actually a little disappointing though they did not give up – Richard Sweetman had a poor match and it took Steve Johnston three rides to get going.

Monarchs lost the opening race, won by Lyons, but recorded five 5-1s over the remainder of the match. Fisher was at his most outrageous, pipping Sedgmen on the line in heat 10 and then topping that with an incredible ride in heat 13, chasing Johnston while holding off Lyons and finally swooping off the final bend to grab the win, punching the air in delight.

This weekend the focus switches to Scotland’s biggest individual event as the Armadale Stadium gears up to host the Keyline Scottish Open Championship on Friday.

There is the usual star-studded field with Belle Vue’s James Wright back to defend the title he won when he came out on top in the 2009 event (which was actually postponed from last year and held in March 2010).

He will face stiff competition. Former Monarch Rory Schlein is coming for the event, and he was the winner in 2004 and 2008, which are the last two times he competed.

Rory calls it the title he has never lost and he is determined to win again before preparing for next week’s World Cup in which he rides for Australia.

Home star Fisher, who we mentioned earlier was in sensational form last week, scoring 17 in the 54-41 win over Birmingham, is very keen to improve on his second place in the March meeting – he simply doesn’t like losing.

Glasgow’s highly experienced Joe Screen will be making his first Armadale appearance as a Tiger, and he must be regarded as a potential winner. He has been an international star for 20 years and finished third in the Open in 2008.

Thomas H Jonasson is another rider who has moved on from Monarchs and recently came second in a Grand Prix qualification semi-final, his best result yet.

He was never an Armadale specialist in his days with Monarchs but he should still be a contender.

Home men Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully and Kevin Wolbert will also be strong contenders.

Lineup for Friday: 1. Erik Pudel (Germany), 2. James Wright (England), 3. Andrew Tully (Scotland), 4. Joe Screen (England), 5. Kauko Nieminen (Finland), 6. Kevin Wolbert (Germany), 7. Rory Schlein (Australia), 8. Thomas H Jonasson (Sweden), 9. Jason Lyons (Australia), 10. Kalle Katajisto (Finland), 11. Matthew Wethers, 12. AN Other, 13. Tobias Busch (Edinburgh), 14. James Grieves (Scotland), 15. William Lawson (Scotland), 16. Ryan Fisher (USA).

On Sunday, Monarchs race their outstanding Premier Trophy match at Glasgow (the Trophy has already reached the final stage but this is a remaining group match) and next Wednesday there is a far more important fixture at King’s Lynn, the first leg of the KO Cup quarter-final between last year’s top two clubs.

Admission prices for the 22 heats of the Open are increased to £18 for adults, £14 for OAPs and £5 for children between 12 and 15. Accompanied children under 12 will be free as normal.