Table Toppers Here On Friday

NEWS Wednesday 14th September 2016, 11:37am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs race the top team in the Premier League this Friday at Armadale – the Somerset Rebels.

The Rebels have lost only two league matches this season and although they have had to bring in three guest riders to the main body of their team, they have chosen track specialists and certainly don’t seem to be weakened. Monarchs have Berwick’s Thomas Jorgensen standing in for Erik Riss and are now certain to qualify for the Playoffs. They will look to keep their 100% home league record intact against the Rebels.

John Campbell said “Our position in the play-offs is secure even with matches outstanding and we must now await the last few matches before Monday to find our opposition in the quarter finals.”

Teams for the Premier League Match at Armadale on Friday 16th September (start time 7.30pm, gates open 6.30pm), are:

BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Ryan Fisher, Thomas Jorgensen, Mark Riss, Kevin Wolbert, Max Clegg, Dan Bewley.

SOMERSET REBELS: Ricky Wells, Victor Palovaara, Jake Allen, Paul Starke, Ludvig Lindgren, Bradley Wilson-Dean, Nathan Stoneman.

FRIDAY’S TEAMS: Erik Riss races at Pardubice in the World Under-21 Final second leg on Friday, so Monarchs have brought in Thomas Jorgensen to replace him.

Dan Bewley has been practising this week and is ready to make his return following his injury at the end of August.

On the Somerset side, they have Josh Grajczonek, Rohan Tungate and Charles Wright away racing in the Elite League with Swindon. None of the trio have impressive recent records at Armadale (though they are top PL riders) whereas their replacements – Ricky Wells (Workington), Ludvig Lindgren and Victor Palovaara (Newcastle) have all done well this season on the track.

Rebels’ injured no. 7 Zach Wajtknecht is replaced by Nathan Stoneman (Isle of Wight).

PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset can’t be caught at the top of the table, and it is also certain that the next two teams at the cut-off point (Monday) will be Glasgow and Newcastle. Somerset and Glasgow will wait for two teams to emerge from the first set of Playoff ties, while Newcastle will race the sixth placed team.

Monarchs will finish fourth or fifth, with Ipswich the only team who could pass them. They race Newcastle home and away before the cutoff.

The other teams still chasing a place are Sheffield and Peterborough.

MATCH SPONSOR: Friday’s match will be sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Edinburgh.

REBELS NOT WEAKENED: It doesn’t look especially like the Somerset Rebels but that doesn’t mean the match on Friday will be any easier for the Border Roofing Monarchs.

Ludvig Lindgren has obviously been selected by Rebels’ team boss Garry May on the strength of his brilliant recent double maximum for Monarchs, on the night he stood in for Sam Masters. Victor Palovaara was unbeaten from his first four heats for Newcastle at Armadale earlier in the season, and Ricky Wells is generally regarded as the most consistent no. 1 visitor.

In addition to that Paul Starke has been by far the most impressive Rebels’ rider at Armadale on recent visits!

Their other two regulars Jake Allen (Australia) and Bradley Wilson-Dean (New Zealand) are both making their first appearance at the track.

FANS' TRUST RAFFLE: The Monarchs' Fans Trust, who have been such a fantastic support to the club this season are staging a raffle with a £500 first prize to be drawn in November. If you want to help by selling some tickets, Books will be available to sell from the Gazebo from 6.30pm till tapes up and then in the bar after the meeting.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs suffered an incredible ninth rainoff of the season last Friday when the match against Glasgow was called off in the early afternoon. It’s the worst season of weather the club has ever suffered though 2012 was almost as bad by the end of that year.

NEXT MEETING: The next fixture will be on Friday 23rd September with the opposition still to be confirmed.

Full Result Details