Stoke Potters v Edinburgh Monarchs

Stoke has been a good track for us over the years, but not this time as we failed to capitalise on a good start.

The track was watered late and several riders found that the outside, in the shade of the air fence, was very slippery. It probably had as much effect on Potters as Monarchs because several of the riders like the outside sweep.

Having seen them on Friday we might have suspected that Stoke were a poor side, but of course they are quite different on their own track.

Our guest Paul Clews was a late arrival, coming in as the riders were on parade and having to miss heat 1. This didn?t affect matters as Aaron Summers came in and stormed to victory in the fastest time of the day, with Ryan Fisher holding off the home riders.

A great start, and heat 2 looked promising too. Craig Branney hit the tapes and went off 15 metres, then Byron slipped up the inside to the front and Aaron came round the wide line. However he went into the muck on the second bend and slipped off, earning an exclusion.

It got worse as Byron led the rerun by a huge margin but slipped off on the inside of the pits bend. He was so far ahead that he was back on his bike when Kristiansen caught up. The Dane was not impeded but the referee unaccountably stopped the race, and once he had done that it had to be a 5-0 to Stoke.

That was a huge turnaround from what we should have had out of the race, and we never really recovered from the blow.

Ryan Fisher was our first r/r in heat 3 but it was Jakobsen away fast for a win. Surprisingly Complin trailed in a poor last.

A good start from Michal Rajkowski earned him a heat 4 win with Ksiezak, not in good form these days, just holding off Aaron Summers. It was enough to give us a 1-point lead.

However we saw the real Complin in heat 5 as he led all the way. Fisher was trying to make up ground but he wasn?t attentive enough to the challenge from Jakobsen, who eventually passed him. Paul Clews was nowhere.

We lost heat 6 as well, though Rajkowski?s second place was a good one under a strong challenge from Madsen.

Stoke led by 5 but we managed to take advantage of their weak third pairing through a 5-1 from Rajkowski and Wethers.

Heat 8 looked promising too but we missed out chance here. Madsen gated and though it seemed several times that Clews would pass him, he never did.

Jakobsen and Complin were a strong pair and even though Michal slipped inside Complin at one point, it was an easy home 5-1 in the end.

Bunyan and Madsen took 4 from the next race with Clews? pass of Madsen limiting the damage. We were now 7 down and it didn?t look like our day.

We expected 5 from heat 11 but even though Clews passed Ksiezak, Fisher didn?t manage it and we had only knocked two off the Stoke advantage.

Heat 12 had an unexpected result. We managed to keep Jakobsen at the back, with Matthew pulling off a great last lap pass, but reserve Kristiansen won the heat having previously done very little.

We were still 5 down and the remaining heats were not all that promising. Bunyan won heat 13 from Fisher with Rajkowski just holding off Ksiezak, who fell on the last lap.

Kristiansen came in to heat 14 but was back at the back with Complin winning, and at 5 down we needed to share the last heat to take a point. With Bunyan and Complin in, it didn?t look likely, and it never looked like happening.

Stoke Potters v Edinburgh Monarchs

Following two commanding victories at home, the Scotwaste Monarchs head south to face the Stoke Potters in a restaged Premier League fixture.

Monarchs have a decent record at Loomer Road, including a glorious 21 point win last season when, of course, we went on to become League Champions (I make no apology for mentioning that again!). It was a meeting probably best remembered for the heat 12 incident involving baby faced Ben Barker and Swedish maximum man Thomas H Jonasson. At least neither will be in attendance this time so we shouldn?t need any visits from the local Police!

The Potters were one of our ?victims? at sunny Armadale on Friday, highlighted by the fact their top scorer, Lee Complin, scored only 6+1. I?m not sure I can remember the last time I saw such a low score on teletext (or whatever the modern day red button equivalent is called!).

Yet again, our Germans are missing. Their absences are covered by an excellent choice of guest in Paul Clews, who stands in for Max Dilger, while the rider replacement facility will be utilised in the case of Kevin Wolbert. Thankfully, every member of the Monarchs? side is eligible for an extra outing. Indeed, if they all continue their scoring form from last night, we won?t even miss our newest superstar!

Our hosts have only lost once in the Premier League this year. Not surprisingly, that was against the all conquering Kings Lynn Stars. Their side is something of a solid septet, led superbly by the ever entertaining Jason Bunyan. The former Isle of Wight Islander has really stepped up his game this season and deserves every success, as does another top quality ?watchable? rider, Lee Complin. Personally, I?ll never forget either his matchwinning performance for us at Newport in 2007 or his Grand Final win at the Garry Stead Grand Prix. Thankfully his road crash last year didn?t spell the end of his career and he?s now back in the saddle and thrilling the punters every week.

The Potters? reserve pairing has also had their moments. Jesper Kristiansen is one of the best lower order riders in the league while Craig Branney may not be as good as he once was (pre Telford leg break) but he can still be a handy asset at number 6.

Our own guys are all generally excellent round the fair Staffordshire circuit. Ryan Fisher has had a couple of guest bookings down there to add to his Monarchs? points and of course Paul Clews should be able to put his former home track experience to good use. It?s also a venue where Aaron Summers enjoyed a massive 19 points return on his 2007 Conference League swansong in Buxton colours.

Whatever happens, let?s hope for dry weather and a decent night?s speedway and, as always, may the best team win...

Likely line-ups:

Potters: Jason Bunyan, Tom P Madsen, Klaus Jakobsen, Lee Complin, Robert Ksiezak, Craig Branney, Jesper Kristiansen.

Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Paul Clews, r/r for Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Michal Rajkowski, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.