Cheetahs challenge for Stellar Monarchs

NEWS Thursday 17th August 2023, 10:42am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs are still in the fight for a Playoff place and have their next opportunity to pick up some vital points when star-studded Oxford Cheetahs come to Armadale in a Championship match on Friday (7:30pm).

The Cheetahs have already had a drawn match at Armadale this season in the Knockout Cup, a tie won on aggregate by Oxford, and of course they have on their side both Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls who are both amongst the greatest exponents of riding the Armadale circuit. To say the Monarchs will have to be at their best is an understatement.

Monarchs welcome back Kye Thomson from his illness absence, and have Drew Kemp guesting in place of Paco Castagna who is on his way to Sweden for the Grand Prix Challenge (one stage away from next year's GP) on Saturday.

Team manager Alex Harkess says "It's up to us on Friday, we all need to perform and we need everybody at their best. We welcome Oxford led by Sam Masters. He has always been part of the family here and always will be."

Monarchs currently sit in sixth place in the Championship, which is where they need to be for the Playoffs, but it will be tight and every point counts. Visitors Oxford are second, level on points with top team Poole, and have only been beaten twice in their dozen Championship matches to date.

Friday's match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 18th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Oxford Cheetahs (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Drew Kemp (guest), Kye Thomson, Bastian Borke, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood, Max Clegg.

MONARCH CHEETAHS: Sam Masters, Henry Atkins, Lewis Kerr, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls (captain), Cameron Heeps, Luke Killeen.

The Championship Fixture will be followed by a Northern Junior League match between Armadale Angels and West Lothian Wildcats. There will also be the annual Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund collection during the meeting.

The home meeting on Friday 25th August will be a Championship double-header against Poole and Birmingham with a start time of 7:00pm.

Full Result Details