CHAMPIONS FACE CHAMPIONS-ELECT!

NEWS Wednesday 8th July 2009, 7:35pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This week's Speedway at Armadale is the match the whole country has been waiting for - the 2008 Premier League champions Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs against the team tipped to grab all the honours this season, the King's Lynn Warnes Transport Stars.

Both these teams are having good seasons, both are in the semi-finals of the Premier Trophy and the Knockout Cup, but it is King's Lynn with teenage sensation Darcy Ward who have really been the exceptional side. They have two away league wins already and are bidding to break Monarchs' unbeaten home record which stretches back almost two years.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 10th JULY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Michal Rajkowski, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (captain), Aaron Summers, Sean Stoddart.

KING'S LYNN WARNES TRANSPORT STARS: Darcy Ward, Linus Eklof, Emiliano Sanchez, Chris Schramm, Tomas Topinka, Kozza Smith, Jan Graversen.

DARCY WARD: Whatever happens in Friday's match, Armadale supporters will be seeing the best newcomer to British Speedway for many years in 17 year old Aussie Darcy Ward.

Ward is the Australian Under-21 Champion. He started the season on the automatic 5-point average and with the issue of the first green sheets, he almost doubled that figure and went to no. 1 in his team's averages.

He is through to the final of the World Under-21 Championship and is probably favourite to win though he could have another FIVE shots at that title. Chances are he will be in the Grand Prix before these run out.

Last week as Stars won away at Glasgow, Ward equalled the track record.

He has already beaten the other most-talked about young rider in World Speedway, Emil Sayfutdinov, in a Polish League match and it will be intriguing to see how he copes with the allegedly tricky Armadale track.

BIG WEEKEND: Monarchs go to Scunthorpe on Saturday in the Premier Trophy semi-final first leg, and Newport on Sunday in the Premier League.

Thomas H Jonasson and Byron Bekker come in to the team on Saturday as announced in a previous Press release.

MEETING SPONSOR: Instead of a single match sponsor, previous sponsors Keyline Broxburn, Red Rose Management Consultancy, James Banks Joinery and the Spylaw Tavern have joined forces.

WHO CAN STOP THEM?: Last year, that's what they were saying about the mighty Monarchs as we landed three of the four Premier League team trophies. This year the question is about King's Lynn - and if there is an answer, it might be Monarchs!

We'll have to go some though. As well as Darcy Ward, the Stars have another 9-plus rider in the universally admired Czech star Tomas Topinka, smooth and experienced.

Two riders whose careers have dramatically perked up this season are battling Chris Schramm, with Ipswich last year, who has added two points to his average, and Emiliano Sanchez who had a poor 2008 but who has been at his exciting best at times this year.

That still leaves their young Swede Linus Eklof who has been an excellent replacement for the injured Christian Henry.

Their reserves are scoring well too - Kozza Smith, very much an all-action Aussie, and Dane Jan Graversen who is capable of more than he achieved on a recent guesting visit with Workington.

Not only are they an outstanding team on-track, they also have as their team manager the current GB team boss Rob Lyon, on the eve of Britain's participation in the Speedway World Cup!

SEAN STODDART: As has already been announced, Friday will be Sean's last meeting in the Monarchs' team for the time being. He accepts the situation and all at the club wish him good luck in regaining his best form. We know that he will of course give his all for the team on Friday as he always does.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat Newport 51-41 on a rain-spoilt track last Friday. Aaron Summers top scored with 13 points.

NEXT MEETING: Somerset Rebels, with Sky Celebrity Steve Johnston, will be the visitors to Armadale in a Premier League match on Friday 17th July, which is also the Bert Harkins Legends night in Hospitality.

Full Result Details