Edinburgh Monarchs
Theo Pijper 11 (4)
Redcar Bears
Aaron Summers 9 (4)
Premier League
52
29
Friday 31st August 2012
Armadale Stadium
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: Alex Harkess
52
1. James Grieves 3 3 3 1* 10 1
2. Derek Sneddon 2 2* 3 1 8 1
3. Theo Pijper 2 3 3 3 11 0
4. Matthew Wethers 1* 2* 2* 5 3
5. Andrew Tully 3 2 3 2 10 0
6. Filip Sitera 1 0 1 2 0
7. Marcel Helfer 3 1 1 1 6 0
Redcar Bears
Team Manager: Brian Havelock
29
1. Ulrich Ostergaard 1 X 4 0 5 0
2. Carl Wilkinson F 0 1 2 0 3 0
3. Kevin Doolan r/r 0 0
4. Aaron Summers 3 2 2 2 9 0
5. Matej Kus X 1 3 1 3 8 0
6. Tommy Fenwick 0 T 0 0 0 0
7. Jade Mudgway 2 2 E R E 4 0
Heat 1
Time: 63.1
1. James Grieves  
3
2. Derek Sneddon  
2
1. Ulrich Ostergaard  
1
2. Carl Wilkinson  
F
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
5
Away
1
1
Heat 2
Time: 62.7
6. Filip Sitera  
1
7. Marcel Helfer  
3
6. Tommy Fenwick  
0
7. Jade Mudgway  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
9
Away
2
3
Heat 3
Time: 61.6
3. Theo Pijper  
2
4. Matthew Wethers  
1
3. Kevin Doolan r/r  
2. Carl Wilkinson
0
4. Aaron Summers  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
12
Away
3
6
Heat 4
Time: 62.1
5. Andrew Tully  
3
7. Marcel Helfer  
1
5. Matej Kus  
Fx
7. Jade Mudgway  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
16
Away
2
8
Heat 5
Time: 62.6
3. Theo Pijper  
3
4. Matthew Wethers  
2
1. Ulrich Ostergaard  
Fx
2. Carl Wilkinson  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
21
Away
1
9
Heat 6
Time: 65.1
1. James Grieves  
3
2. Derek Sneddon  
2
5. Matej Kus  
1
6. Tommy Fenwick  
7. Jade Mudgway
R
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
26
Away
1
10
Heat 7
Time: 64.2
5. Andrew Tully  
2
6. Filip Sitera  
0
3. Kevin Doolan r/r  
5. Matej Kus
3
4. Aaron Summers  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
28
Away
5
15
Heat 8
Time: 64.7
2. Derek Sneddon  
3
7. Marcel Helfer  
1
2. Carl Wilkinson  
2
7. Jade Mudgway  
R
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
32
Away
2
17
Heat 9
Time: 63.7
3. Theo Pijper  
3
4. Matthew Wethers  
2
5. Matej Kus  
1
6. Tommy Fenwick  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
37
Away
1
18
Heat 10
Time: 65
1. James Grieves  
3
2. Derek Sneddon  
1
3. Kevin Doolan r/r  
7. Jade Mudgway
R
4. Aaron Summers  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
41
Away
2
20
Heat 11
Time: 64
5. Andrew Tully  
3
6. Filip Sitera  
1
1. Ulrich Ostergaard  
4
2. Carl Wilkinson  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
45
Away
4
24
Heat 12
Time: 64.2
3. Theo Pijper  
3
7. Marcel Helfer  
1
3. Kevin Doolan r/r  
4. Aaron Summers
2
6. Tommy Fenwick  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
49
Away
2
26
Heat 13
Time: 65.1
1. James Grieves  
1
5. Andrew Tully  
2
1. Ulrich Ostergaard  
0
5. Matej Kus  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
52
Away
3
29
Heat 14
 
4. Matthew Wethers  
6. Filip Sitera  
4. Aaron Summers  
7. Jade Mudgway  
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
0
52
Away
0
29
Match Abandoned

Edinburgh raised their game for the second part of the double header, against a much less committed opposition side.

It was a pretty dull event, the riders slithering round generally in the positions gained from the start. A couple of early falls for Matej Kus and Ulrich Ostergaard didn't help the Bears' cause, though they were a little fortunate when Aaron Summers got a second chance to win heat 3 after Wilkinson had fallen.

The visitors only managed three race winners and the most impressive performers were on the home side – double figures for James Grieves, Theo Pijper and Andrew Tully, and equally solid performances from Derek Sneddon and Matthew Wethers.

Even Marcel Helfer won a heat, a major surprise after how he went in the previous match. Bears' reserve Jade Mudgway was the unluckiest rider, with three successive stoppages on the start line.

The best race of all 28 on a disappointing night was what proved to be the final heat of this match, as Tully kept forcing his way inside race leader Kus only to be pipped at the post. The end, however, was still a relief.

In a speedway season like no other, Edinburgh face a Friday night the likes of which they have never faced before with the Premier League double header visit of both Scunthorpe and Redcar coinciding with the simultaneous loss to injury of the two most potent Monarchs riders.

And first up, thanks to speedway's madcap guest rules, an already very strong Scorpions side are able to replace David Howe with Kevin Wolbert, an Elite League rider who spent two seasons mastering the Armadale track, whereas James Grieves has the unenviable task of trying to fill in for Monarchs 15-point champion, Craig Cook.

Derek Sneddon faces one of the form riders of the Premier League at No.2, Nick Morris, who was instrumental in Glasgow's 2011 Premier League success. Theo Pijper lines up opposite a very talented young Danish rider Thomas Jorgensen at No.3.

Fresh from his testimonial success, Matthew Wethers takes on a young, up-and-coming British prospect from Sheffield, Ashley Birks at No.4. Andrew Tully has a big task as usual at No.5, this time trying to subdue another exciting Yorkshire rider with international ambitions, Josh Awty.

The Czech Republic rider with a great family pedigree in speedway, Filip Sitera, guests in blue and gold at No.6 for Jozsef Tabaka where he faces another young Danish rider, Michael Palm Toft in his first full UK season. And finally at No.7, a lot will be expected of Marcel Helfer against Gary Irving from Carlisle.

This will be a close one and the five fit regular Monarchs will really have to step up to the plate if they are to hold on to that precious unbeaten home record. The performance of the reserves looks to be a more important area than usual which could swing the result one way or the other.

In the second match, Monarchs will be out for revenge for their unexpected home loss to Redcar that effectively ended their interest in the League Cup. James Grieves won't find life any easier this time around as he faces the formidable Danish rider with the Elite League pedigree, Ulrich Oostergaard.

There's a real mouth-watering match-up at No.2 where Derek Sneddon pits his individual style against another rider with an even more trademark exciting style of his own, Carl Wilkinson. Theo Pijper lines up at No.3 this time opposite the experienced Aussie Kevin Doolan who has been a bit below his best this season.

The battle of the skippers is at No.4 where Matthew Wethers will have to be at his best against another former Monarch and Armadale track expert, Aaron Summers. Andrew Tully will look to pile up the points from No.5 when he lines up against the unpredictable Czech Republic star, Matej Kus.

Edinburgh's guest at No.6, Filip Sitera this time faces another ex-Monarch with a point to prove, Max Dilger, who never hit the heights in the blue and gold. As for Marcel Helfer, he faces young New Zealander Jade Mudgway who has been a bit of a speedway nomad in recent times.

On paper, this looks to be the marginally easier of the two matches. However, Monarchs riders and machines will be tested to the limit thanks to this ridiculously rain-sodden season. Redcar will be well up for this one and a lot might depend on how the first match turns out.

One thing's for sure, your support will be needed more than ever and there's a 30-heat feast of Premier League action in prospect for those who love their speedway. The action will be brisk in order to fit two meetings into the available time. Remember, tapes up sharp at 7.00.

Likely line-ups.

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: James Grieves (guest), Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Filip Sitera (guest), Marcel Helfer.

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS: Kevin Wolbert (guest), Nick Morris, Thomas Jorgensen, Ashley Birks, Josh Auty, Michael Palm Toft, Gary Irving.

REDCAR BEARS: Ulrich Ostergaard, Carl Wilkinson, Kevin Doolan, Aaron Summers (capt.), Matej Kus, Max Dilger, Jade Mudgway.