Theo Pijper: 'That gave me the spirit to focus more and try harder'

NEWS Saturday 1st August 2020, 6:00pm

by PR Team

  Edinburgh Monarchs

2003 Monarchs league winner Theo Pijper joined John and Liam last Sunday for an excellent Sunday Lunch question and answer session.

Theo is now one of the most experienced riders in world speedway, moving from grasstrack to speedway when he joined the Monarchs back in 2002 and was due to line up for Scunthorpe in 2020, remaining active throughout this time. Reflecting back, Theo said, "I've been a long time in Edinburgh, it kept me there really because it's such a nice city.

"The people are very nice and of course I was delighted when the boys [Theo's two sons, Ace and Stene who are up-and-coming young riders] got to ride there too because this is where I started.

"[Before joining the Monarchs] The only racing I did on a speedway bike was in Holland. You would see Grand Prix speedway on the TV and you'd hear of British Speedway. I was still young then and I thought I'd give it a shot.

"The first year was tough, I was on the phone to my Dad saying, 'I'm giving up, I'm going home' but my Dad said, 'you started something, you need to finish it' so that gave me the spirit to focus more and try harder then the year after we got the league title!"

Theo continued to progress with the Monarchs, pushing on to become a heatleader, "2006 I had a really good year for me personally as I was wearing the number 1 racejacket and home and away I was scoring very good points. It was a year I will never forget."

Theo is a very talented motorcyclist in many forms and discussed all of this, the next generation of Pijper speedway riders, and more in this fascinating session. If you missed last weekend's Sunday Lunch with Theo, you can watch now over on EMTV.

John and Liam return for another live Sunday Lunch With... question and answer session tomorrow at 6pm with Ivan Blacka - an entertaining Monarch from the Powderhall era (Sunday 2nd). Ask your questions now by emailing johnandliam@edinburghmonarchs.co.uk or ask live during the session over on Monarchs Facebook page.