Double delight takes Academy close to title

The Edinburgh Monarchs Academy performed majestically at Armadale tonight winning both matches in their double header, beating closest rivals Leicester by an astonishing 65-25 and then Buxton by 59-31.

Team manager Scott Wilson said afterwards "It was beyond my wildest expectations. Obviously I have so much belief in this team but I could not have imagined that. The determination that they rode with tonight, nobody was beaten when they were behind. I'm so, so proud of them.

"To get a score like that against a good side, and then have the energy to go again and almost put up 60, I don't have the words to describe how proud and happy I am."

The whole team rode brilliantly and Wilson was not keen to highlight any one performance out, but he did have a special word for guest rider Ashton Vale who scored maximums in both fixtures. "It was a full team effort tonight but you have to single Ashton out. For a guest to come in and to ride with such determination and aggression, when he isn't riding for his own team, I can't speak highly enough of him, on and off track he just slotted in to the team."

It had been disappointing to learn pre-match that Leicester would be under strength for the big showdown between the top two sides, but in all honesty the Academy overwhelmed Leicester so totally that it's hard to see that the missing men would have made a significant difference.

The home team gated superbly, and when they didn't gate they fought so hard to come from the back. Even riders as experienced at this level as Ben Morley and Max Perry had virtually no answer. Ben Whalley had a tremendous ride from the back to pass Mosley in heat 6, Ashton Vale rode an almost unbelievable wide first turn in heat 9 to also round Morley, and Whalley was irresistible again passing Perry in heat 10.

Perry did manage to win one race when he beat Dayle Wood in heat 7, but that was the only chequered flag the Lion Cubs took all night. The Academy had four paid maximums (Loftus, Whalley, Vale and Foord) and Dayle Wood dropped just one point. The most disappointing moment of the night came in heat 15 when Jamie Halder, such a hard working contributor, stopped on the final lap to miss out on being the fifth paid maximum scorer.

Everyone knew from the start of the season that the Academy team was very strong, but to that they have added immense determination and team spirit. Armadale has not seen many more complete team performances in its 30 years of racing than this one, totally memorable.

This is the big one for the Edinburgh Academy

The remarkable Edinburgh Academy team can't win the league this week, but they can get two steps closer. On Friday, they face both closest challengers Leicester and second-place Buxton in a double-header that will go a long way towards deciding who will be crowned champions.

Top of the table clash x 2

For most of the season, Edinburgh and Leicester have been locked-in as the only unbeaten teams, but the Lions blinked first, losing away at resurgent Oxford last month – a trip that Edinburgh have still to make after having to work hard to beat the Chargers last week at Armadale. Both sides need the win on Friday and Edinburgh will also want to take a decent aggregate advantage for the return fixture in the Midlands, which has still to be re-arranged. Both sides have taken all the bonus points available to them so far.

The Academy can consolidate their advantage at the top by completing their home programme without loss on Friday. A win over Buxton will be worth three-points, including the aggregate one, as the Academy won at Buxton earlier in the year, although the Bulls are much stronger now. A huge amount of work has gone into the return of league speedway at Buxton this year and they will be delighted to be sitting near the top of the table.

Edinburgh Academy are ready

At the end of his first full year in UK speedway, Jordy Loftus will be involved in a lot of meaningful high-pressure speedway over the next few weeks. For the Monarchs, he has the Championship play-offs against Poole coming up, and every match will count for the remainder of the Academy fixtures, in which he carries a lot more responsibility. Sister Anika bears less expectation but must be excited at the prospect of battling for honours at this early stage in her speedway journey.

The Championship season is over Dayle Wood and Vinnie Foord after their teams' elimination but Ben Whalley has a KO Cup final to look forward to with Plymouth. Vinnie has only dropped three points over 3 matches for the Academy and should relish two more chances to pile on the points on Friday. Jordy, Vinnie and Dayle all notched double-figures last Friday, as did Jamie Halder with 7+3 from a busy seven rides.

With their incredibly deep line-up, the Academy can cover rider replacement better than any other team, as they showed against Oxford, but two matches in one night with extra rides would be asking a lot from young riders and their machines. Manager Scott Wilson has made a shrewd move by bringing back Ashton Vale to guest for James Shanes after his 10-point score for Oxford at Armadale last week. Ashton also scored 9+3 for the Academy at King's Lynn earlier this year, so after two more matches this week, he might be looking for a medal if it all works out for Edinburgh at the end of the year.

Lions duo miss out

Leicester's line-up has been severely hit by the scheduling of the Scunthorpe v Glasgow play-off match for Friday. That robs the Lion Cubs of Glasgow's Freddy Hodder and Dan Thompson's workshop buddy Ryan 'The Rocket' Ingram of Scunthorpe. Buxton's Alfie Bowtell will pull double-duty by guesting for Leicester and he has had some good nights at Armadale. Unless a guest can be found, it will be rider replacement for 'The Rocket', so that means extra rides and responsibility for Ben Morley, Max Perry and Tom Spencer, who are all capable of stepping up.

Bulls hit by absence too

With Jack Smith suffering an ongoing hip concern that will need an operation in the close season, Buxton will bring in Charlie Southwick as cover and use rider replacement for Luke Harris. Bowtell and Jack Roberts can lead the way, but the Bulls are inexperienced at reserve with guest Laylen Richardson and young Jack Shimelt.

Now or never

Opportunity knocks for the Academy on Friday, especially with their rivals weakened. The double-header will be a good test of their ability to be crowned champions. Every heat will count, and with 30 of them programmed, the action will start at the earlier time of 7pm.

This is the last chance of the year to back the Academy team, and with everything on the line, they are well-worth supporting on Friday.

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy vs Leicester Lion Cubs followed by Buxton Bulls - Armadale Stadium - Friday 11th September, 7pm

ROSS COMMERCIAL FINANCE MONARCHS ACADEMY: Jordy Loftus, Ben Whalley, Ashon Vale (guest), Vinnie Foord, Dayle Wood (captain), Anika Loftus, Jamie Halder.

LEICESTER JCB WATLING LION CUBS: Alfie Bowtell (guest), Tom Spencer, Max Perry, Rider Replacement for Ryan Ingram, Ben Morley (captain), Eli Meadows, Seth Norman, No 8 TBC.

Followed by Edinburgh Monarchs Academy vs

BUXTON DUCTAIR BULLS: Alfie Bowtell (captain), Arran Butcher, Rider Replacement for Luke Harris, Charlie Southwick (guest), Jack Roberts, Laylen Richardson (guest), Jack Shimelt, No 8 TBC.

British Youth Championship on Saturday

This Saturday afternoon from 1:30pm will see 28 of Britain's best young riders race across 32 heats of action at Armadale Stadium.

Gates open at 1pm with the first race on track at 1:30pm. Rocco Webb, Liam Morris, Callum and Lewis Hague, Douglas and Ella Marshall will all be in action and they had their first rides on the Monarchs Speedway Academy mini-track.

Thank you to Monarchs Speedway Supporters Club for their title sponsorship of the event, with additional thanks to Category Sponsors Jack Glanville, Robert Hague, and R. H. Young Agricultural and Fencing Supplies of Avonbridge.

Thanks also goes to Event Sponsors George Walker, Pete Nicoll, Jack Glanville, Margaret Sutherland, Swally Tours. All sponsorship is vital to assisting with staging this event and providing a platform for youth racing.