Monarchs Back Bickley for 2023

NEWS Wednesday 7th December 2022, 7:00am

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The countdown to Christmas continues and the Monarchs are delighted to announce the second of the 7 that will grace the Armadale shale in 2023 with the addition of Kyle Bickley!

Kyle Bickley is a well-known figure on the northern circuit at Championship level having had spells with Glasgow, Berwick, Workington and Redcar but this is the year that Bickley is looking to make his mark and he feels the Monarchs have got a bargain as he joins on a sub 3-point average.

Bickley said, "I am really looking forward to joining the Monarchs. I have spoken to the club in the past I think at the end of 2019/beginning of 2020 but unfortunately at the time it didn't pan out and I went to Berwick but I think now it is a good time for me and a good time for Edinburgh to bring me on board.

"I am happy and, for the rider I know I can be, I think my average is a steal. I have had a bit of time to kind of reset myself, get back to basics, start afresh with no pressure and I know what I can do. I am looking forward to going out there and doing my job."

The Monarchs management agree that 2022 was an aberration for the 20-year-old Bickley and are backing him for 2023. A quick look at his Armadale record with a near 4.5 average shows that a starting average around 1.5 points below that only leaves scope for improvement.

The Whitehaven-born racer is looking to make his new home track his own as he reflects on his Armadale record, "It is crazy as I think I came twice with Berwick and never did very well and the same when I was with Workington but when I was with Glasgow or wherever I guested there I always went well.

"I think I have paid 12 as my highest score. I have always liked Armadale, maybe in the past it was prepared as a home track and it wasn't the easiest as an away rider but it is a track I enjoy especially the last few years. Now it will be my home track I can really get used to it and score the 7 and 8 points a week I am aiming for."

Having been on the scene since not long after his 16th birthday it is easy to forget that Bickley won't turn 21 till February but after a nomadic career so far, the 2018 league winner is hoping this can be the start of a prosperous spell with the Monarchs.

"Edinburgh is somewhere I feel I can progress and somewhere I feel I can put a base down and go and score points every week and help me develop as I have never actually finished two seasons at one club. Obviously, Workington closed down, Glasgow I didn't fit with my average then Covid happened and at Berwick last year it just didn't work out.

"So, for me it is important for me to do a couple of seasons at the same track, and I think Edinburgh can be that club. I am experienced for where I will be in the team, and I think that can help both home and away. So, first I am looking to get dialled in at Armadale, getting in with the rest of the boys and going from there."

Experience could be the key thing for Bickley in 2023, with the lowering of the team building average all of the completed teams so far have at least one 2-point newcomer or relative newcomer to the league. Slotting in as the lowest average rider in the Monarchs line-up Bickley is expecting this will give him an advantage come season start.

"Obviously last year wasn't my year, I struggled with various different things, but I am confident for this year. I've went through that now and that experience can only make me better whereas some of the young guys won't have gone through that before.

"I think I am on a steal of an average and I think I am worth at least a point to a point and a half more. I view myself as more of a 4 or 5 pointer. I have the experience at the bottom end of the team. I have been to all the tracks before so that can only help me and I can't wait to get started."

So two down, five to go - keep checking your Monarchs Advent Calendar every day for more announcements as December progresses.

2023 Monarchs: Josh Pickering, Kyle Bickley