RAIN WINS AGAIN BUT MONARCHS WIN TOO

NEWS Friday 21st August 2009, 0:17am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Rain before the start and during the match caused an abandonment of the match against Birmingham, but Monarchs held a 4-point advantage in a match which was always nip-and-tuck.

Rain arrived at 7 but fortunately relented in time to allow the match to start. The heats were raced speedily enough to get through 12 before the heavy rain returned.

Monarchs had led by 6 points after 6 races only to lose the lead at heat 9. They bounced back and went four ahead with a heat 12 5-1.

Heat 13 was halted when Jason Lyons fell and Tomasz Piszcz ran into him. While discussions on the decision went ahead, the rain came back and it became clear that the racing would have to end.

Ryan Fisher won his three races for Monarchs and seems to be running into excellent form.

Of course all eyes were on Monarchs' two German riders. Max Dilger showed determination to take the lead in heat 3, then benefitted from a magnificent ride by Matthew Wethers who passed Sweetman and then shepherded Max home.

Kevin Wolbert really impressed. He didn't gate well but in heat 4 he passed Lee Smart on the inside, and in heat 7 did the same to Ludvig Lindgren.

He clipped the boards in heat 11 trying to go round Tomasz Piszcz, but the overall impression was that Monarchs have signed a handy rider there.

Off to Workington tomorrow.

Full Result Details