MAX TO THE FORE IN ANOTHER GREAT DISPLAY

The Scotwaste Monarchs performed impressively once again and finished 61-31 winners against Plymouth, with Max Fricke scoring a full 15 point maximum.

The result extended the unbeaten start to the season to 18 matches.

Our young Aussie looked more assured than ever and simply shot from the gate in each of his heats. Ben Barker had won the opening race but in heat 5 he had no answer to Fricke's pace, and that set the tone for the rest of the night for the Devils' no. 1.

Heats 2 to 15 were all race wins for the Monarchs, and three 5-1s from heats 6 to 8 were the ones which killed off the early challenge. Even highly rated riders such as Rasmus Jensen and reserve Sam Simota rarely got a look in.

There can't ever have been a Monarchs' team which gets out of the start quite as well as the current one. Time and again they rocketed from the tapes, often as a pair.

Cook and Sedgmen dropped points only in heat 1 when Barker raced away from gate 3. Sam Masters only missed out when he spun off on the first bend of heat 4 after making a start, thereafter he was dominant and headed Barker twice, including Ben's TR ride.

Stevie Worrall was only beaten in his final ride when he just missed out in a good battle with Mason Campton, and there has to be a special mention for Aaron Fox who smoothly took a win and two paid wins on his comeback. He missed out in heat 11 when Barker and Newman pushed him to the back. Had it not been for Max's heroics, Aaron would surely have been Monarch of the match.

We have to mention the skipper, and it was a bad night for Derek, though he always puts the team first. Just one point from his four rides and he seemed to be trying far too hard and getting into awkward positions. He's at his best when the chips are down, something which is rarely the case these days (but remember heat 14 at Ipswich and Newcastle). We may need a strong showing from him at Workington tomorrow.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Plymouth Devils

The Scotwaste Monarchs are back to full strength this Friday, but the same can't be said for this week's visitors, the Plymouth Devils who are without Adam Roynon and Roland Benko plus, if he is fit, Kalle Katajisto will be making his first return since picking up a wrist injury.

The home team are led by Craig Cook who is simply sensational in the Premier League but who unaccountably can't seem to translate that into the Elite League. He will have to be at his sharpest this week against his UK nemesis, Ben Barker who will be desperate to show he's top dog.

Last week's thoroughly deserving Monarch of the Match, Justin Sedgmen, has no direct opponent at No.2 where Plymouth operate rider replacement for Adam Roynon who was ditched by Sheffield only to suffer yet another serious injury before he had time to settle in as a Devil.

Max Fricke makes a welcome return to the blue and gold at No.3 where he could potentially be riding against a very well known face around the Armadale pits, Kalle Katajisto, the Finnish prospect who first appeared with Kai Laukkanen but who rather lost his way in subsequent seasons.

Monarchs' captain Derek Sneddon was showing his old impressive sharpness out of the traps last week and he'll need to be again since he seems to be evenly matched at No.4 with Poole-born Kyle Newman, now in his eighth UK season having enjoyed much success in the National league.

The ever-smiling Sam Masters certainly finds himself tested every week at No.5 and this week is no exception. His opposite number is one of the most highly rated young Danish riders in the world, Rasmus Jensen who has been scoring close to ten points per match for the Devils.

Aaron Fox slots back into the Monarchs side at No.6 on a tide of goodwill after his injury issues. He won't have much time to work his way back to where he left off against his opposite number, Zdenek 'Sam' Simota from the Czech Republic who is filling in for Alex Davies who had visa problems.

Monarchs have a dream reserve at No.7 in Stevie Worrall whose average fortunately trails well behind his current form, meaning that he stays at reserve for a bit longer. Plymouth's Hungarian No.7 Roland Benko is out injured and will be replaced by National League guest Ben Hopwood.

Just like last week's visitors, Sheffield Tigers, Plymouth have had a very up and down season so far. But while they may have lost more Premier League matches than they've won so far, they did make it through a tough southern League Cup section and any team to have taken a point at Somerset deserves respect.

Edinburgh are soaring away on top of the Premier League at present and will not want to slacken the pace. There are some dangerous double-figure scoring riders in the Plymouth line-up, so Monarchs will need to have at least four of their talented septet riding at the top of their game.

Plymouth are a small track side who have already won at Rye House, so the size of the Scotwaste Arena won't unduly worry them. However if Monarchs can start the match strongly, they should still be able to make home track advantage count and take all three points. Be there for tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Steve Worrall.

PLYMOUTH DEVILS: Ben Barker, rider replacement for Adam Roynon, Kalle Katajisto, Kyle Newman, Rasmus Jensen, Sam Simota, Ben Hopwood (guest).