Stellar Monarchs turn to Sedgmen

NEWS Wednesday 10th May 2023, 7:57pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The preliminary competitions are over and the Stellar Monarchs' interest in them is over too, so this week the team and the club turn their attention to the main business of the season which is the Cab Direct Championship and the quest for a Playoff position.

It would be nice to be at full strength but team captain Josh Pickering isn't ready to return yet, and so Monarchs call on Justin Sedgmen, whose form at the moment is good – he took 4 race wins from a visit to Redcar last weekend. 'Sedgy' has been part of great things with Monarchs of course, he's a former Scottish Open Champion and last season riding as a guest he grabbed the famous last heat point which helped Monarchs knock Glasgow out of the cup.

Everyone has a role to play and paired with Sedgmen will be Lasse Fredriksen, a rider who has had his moments this season – but not all the time! He says ""Redcar look a strong team and we will need to be on our game from the start, we need to hit them hard early and stop them from thinking they have any chance of winning then we can take that momentum through the rest of the meeting and pick up the victory.

"I can't be unhappy with my season so far although there are things that could have been better. I had some bike problems in the last few matches but hopefully I have worked out what caused them and we have rebuilt the ignition system on the bike now so hopefully that is behind me."

Redcar's heat leader trio will offer a big test without doubt. Charles Wright and Danny King have been in great form, and former Monarch Erik Riss believes he has now conquered the mystery illness which has kept him out of the side for several weeks. Another former Monarch Jason Edwards will be a key man in a reserve berth – he has been racing alongside Jacob Hook in the Polish Under-24 league this week.

The match on Friday will be sponsored by the Monarchs and Monarchs Academy team sponsor Stellar Omada.

Friday's match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 12th May: Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen (guest), Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Craig Cook (captain), Kyle Bickley, Jacob Hook.

AGILIA BEARS: Erik Riss, Danyon Hume, Charles Wright (captain), Connor Bailey, Danny King, Jason Edwards, Jake Mulford.

The Stellar Monarchs Academy travel to Workington on Saturday in the National Development League, the first meeting at this brand new venue and the return of the Workington Comets after 5 years.

The Stellar Monarchs then visit Birmingham next Wednesday in a Championship fixture.

Full Result Details