Paco Picks Monarchs For 2023

NEWS Wednesday 21st December 2022, 7:00am

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Six down and one to go for the 2023 Edinburgh Monarchs and it is another returnee from the 2022 squad in the form of fans favourite Paco Castagna!

Castagna became a darling on the Armadale terraces with his flamboyant performances last year and on a sub 5 point starting average is another that the Monarchs feel can kick on next year a thought shared by the man himself.

"Coming back to Edinburgh was what I wanted. At one point it didn't look like it was going to happen because of what was happening with the stadium, but I waited and I am delighted to be back. I turned down offers from elsewhere, Edinburgh is where I wanted to be and I am over the moon to be back.

"If you look at my time in Birmingham I had an OK first year then did better in my second year and I think that will happen again now I am comfortable. I can't wait for the 2023 season now and I think we have a good team. I think Kye (Thomson) and I will have a good friendly battle for the third heat leader role and that is what I want."

While it may seem strange to say given that final average of 4.93 but Paco felt that his move to the Monarchs was a great success and has set him up for more in the future after a year in which away from Armadale he become Italian Champion and impressed with a 17 point haul in the Speedway of Nations Semi Final - a figure that bettered the likes of Freddie Lindgren, Jan Kvech and David Bellego in the same event.

"The move to Edinburgh was a challenge as it was a move away from a track I did well on at Birmingham to a track I probably didn't like that much but as the year went on, I got better and better and it is a great club. The organisation and management are always there and the people in the pits and at the club always want to help and that definitely helped me with the Italian Championship and Speedway of Nations. I showed what I can do in these meetings and now it's time to do the same in Britain.

"I had 3 meetings I think where I was only 1 point away from a maximum and that shows what I can do, and I just want to start where I left off at the end of last year."

Castagna is not one for resting on his laurels though and, while most European speedway riders take the winter off, he is currently in Argentina defending the title he won prior to joining the Monarchs last year. Although he does admit there aren't many in the country paying attention to the 2 wheeled action after the country's enthralling World Cup win on Sunday Afternoon.

"It was incredible you can't predict or plan for that really to be here when they won it was beautiful. It was crazy everyone was partying in the street and Monday was made a national holiday. It was lovely to be part of it and while I am working very hard while here, I did enjoy it - the atmosphere has been incredible."

Football success has a habit of following the Italian around after he witnessed his country win the Euro Championships in 2021 and now being in Argentina when they lifted the world cup, so the challenge was laid to Castagna that the next bit of success has to come on track at Armadale in 2023.

"I couldn't agree more! Next year I need to be at Armadale when the Monarchs lift the title for the Blue and Gold.

"I think we have a good team and can push on a lot. Losing Sam (Masters) is gutting off track as well as on but that's the name of the game if you look at who we have then everyone can push on. Josh is ready to be a number 1, Kye and I will be going for that heat leader spot, Lasse and Jacob will get better in their second year and Kyle is better than his average as well so I don't see any reason why we can't do it!"

2023 Monarchs: Josh Pickering, Kyle Bickley, Jacob Hook, Kye Thomson, Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna.