Title Partner
NEWS Tuesday 15th May 2007, 6:30pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
The brilliant Australian teenager Chris Holder makes his second appearance at Armadale when he leads the Isle of Wight Islanders in a Premier League match on Friday.
The Islanders have been going well and though they are essentially big track specialists they are expected to provide some quality entertainment at Armadale. The Scotwaste Monarchs expect to welcome back Ronnie Correy and should be at full strength as they look for their third win in as many home league matches.
TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 18th May (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:
EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ronnie Correy (capt.), Derek Sneddon, William Lawson, Henrik Moller, Andrew Tully, Daniele Tessari, Matthew Wethers.
ISLE OF WIGHT WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS: Chris Holder, Corey Gathercole, Jason Bunyan (capt.), Krzysztof Stojanowski, Glen Phillips, Andrew Bargh, A N Other.
HOLDER GOING PLACES: Chris Holder is still only 19 but is already a three-time winner of his country's Under-21 title, and is strongly tipped to win the World Under-21 Championship this year.
He has already been earmarked to step up to the Elite League with Poole next season, and in the meantime is setting a tremendous pace in what could be his final PL season.
He rode at Armadale early last season on a night when the track was heavy after rain, and scored 9 in very exciting style. Chances are he will do better than that with a full season under his belt.
RONNIE SHOULD RIDE: Ronnie Correy took an unexpected tumble last Friday and badly bruised his leg, causing him to miss the visit to Workington last Saturday.
Ronnie said at the weekend ?I knew on the Friday night that it was going to be sore in the morning, and when I woke up I struggled to get out of bed and couldn't even put my shoes on. I had to go home because I would have been worthless on the track.
?I'm expecting to be OK for Friday. It's just bruising which is worst in the first couple of days. My legs and back are the problem. It takes a while to loosen up.
?I'll be having some good soaks and maybe see my chiropractor.?
BERWICK ON SATURDAY: Monarchs race at Berwick in the Premier League on Saturday night. They carry a 32-point advantage from the Armadale leg for the bonus point but of course may hope for even more than that.
SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: Sponsoring Friday's meeting are ?Friends of the Rocket?, a support group for Monarchs' captain Ronnie Correy.
ISLANDERS COULD BE A THREAT: The Isle of Wight are always a bit of an unknown quantity up this end of the country because they generally only visit once a year.
Their form this season has been pretty good, and on a recent trip north they were beating Workington 32-31 after 10 heats when the stadium electrics failed and caused an abandonment.
They return to Workington on Saturday with Edinburgh taking over their previously scheduled fixture at Berwick.
As well as Holder's undoubted pace and quality, the Islanders have also been delighted with the early season form of Jason Bunyan who like Holder has a current average over 9.
And there will be much interested in the latest young Australian to impress in UK Speedway, Corey Gathercole, who is a double state champion back home at the age of 20.
Monarchs will expect to win but the battle for the aggregate bonus tends to be close, so every point will count on Friday.
The Islanders have a blank space at no. 7 because Chris Johnson is unfit, and they are able to use a low-average guest in his place.
LAST WEEK'S MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs beat Berwick 60-32 with the whole side scoring well. Top scorer in his first match down at reserve was Matthew Wethers (13).
NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs take on Somerset Rebels in the next round of the Knockout Cup, with the home leg at Armadale on 25th May. The Rebels feature Premier League Riders' Champion Magnus Zetterstrom in their ranks and have recently been strengthened by the return of Stephan Katt.
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