Title Partner
The Finnish visit to Armadale produced a fairly close result but injury to their most promising young rider.
Their under-21 champion Jari Makinen was one we were told to watch out for, but when he hit the fence in his first ride in heat 4, he injured his wrist. After trying to race in heat 6 this was diagnosed as a suspected break.
The other Finnish newcomers managed a few points but most of the time their scoring was dependant on Kauko Nieminen and Kaj Laukkanen, who both piled up the expected big scores.
However for most of the night the dominant figure was George Stancl, who won his first four races. In heat 13 he again rode a dominant first corner and came into the pits bend ahead, only to slide off into the fence.
Tero Aarnio was involved in two good races, with Derek Sneddon in heat one and Gary Beaton in heat 5. He had followed Nieminen through past Sneddon in heat one and should have held on to the point, but made a mess of the final lap.
In heat 5 he made a late outside passing move on Beaton and just missed out by a tyre.
The racing didn?t reach any great heights, even when Nieminen took a 15 metre TS ride in heat 9. His motor spluttered and his challenge petered out.
Monarchs were 17 points up by heat 10, but the Finns came back. Stoddart spun off on the first bend of heat 12 leaving TR Laukkanen and Kalle Katajisto to complete an 8-1.
After Stancl?s fall in heat 13 the visitors took a 4-2 over Wethers, and they repeated this in the last race, a very impressive ride by Laukkanen.
Makinen?s injury was such a disappointment, because in all honesty none of the other Finnish newcomers looked worth a PL place on the averages they would be given.
For the first time ever, we welcome to Armadale on Friday night a full strength team from Finland to ride against a revamped Edinburgh Monarchs side.
Kai Laukannen and Kalle Katajisto swop to the other side of the pits for this match to join Kauko Nieminen and four names generally unkniown to us - Teri Aarnio, Joni Keskinen, Jari Makinen and Petteri Koivunen.
This leaves a few holes in the Edinburgh side with Andrew Tully and Daniele Tessari still absent. In fact there are only three regulars in the Monarchs' team - George Stancl, Derek Sneddon and Matthew Wethers. To counterbalance the weight of a top end of Nieminen and Laukannen, Edinburgh have recruited the spectacular Lee Complin to join George Stancl. Without knowing much about the 'new to Armadale' Finns it seems fair to assume that Derek Sneddon and Matthew Wethers will outscore them heavily. Consequently to make up the rest of the team, the Monarchs will track Sean Stoddart, Gary Beaton and another rider at reserve still to be announced.
So what can we expect? No matter the experience or ability of most riders, put them into their national side and you tend to get a top perfromance from them. So the last thing the opposition should do is get complacent or they could have a real fight on their hands.
While the match result is not of any great importance it will give us the chance to see the emerging talent form Finland. Indeed how will Kalle fare compared to his fellow countrymen? It will also be a treat to see Lee Complin again and to enjoy his, and George Stancl's, tussles against Kai Laukannen and Kauko Nieminen.
Here's hoping for better weather than last week and an injury free meeting.
© Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway 2024
Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
