Slow Start Costs Monarchs

REPORT Friday 7th July 2023, 9:32pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs were left to rue a slow start going down 51-39 at Scunthorpe on Friday evening meaning all three points stay in Lincolnshire.

Gating was of the essence early on after a pre meeting soaking off the track by the home track team and with the hosts quicker away more times than not it looked like a long evening was in store for the Monarchs as they fell 16 down after seven races.

The visitors did battle hard the rest of the way though to keep the deficit down with team boss John Campbell saying after

"It's always a challenge for us at Scunthorpe as it is such a specialist track with so many racing lines. The Scorpions got off to a strong start while we were working out the set up and the lines.

"It was a shame we got so far behind in the first half of the match because we outscored them in the second half and it should have been closer as Josh definitely got third in heat 13 but the referee saw differently.

"Lasse put in an impressive performance and fully merited his heat 15 appearance.

"Scunthorpe have been doing exceptionally well this season on their own track, but we will take the positives from tonight as we move onto Oxford on Wednesday."

As Campbell mentioned the star of the show from a Monarchs point of view was reserve man Lasse Fredriksen who raced to a paid 16-point haul on a track he has shown his liking for before.

The makings were there to see that the Norwegian was on for a good night as early as the first couple of races as he was competitive in both albeit both seeing wins for home men with Ryan Douglas starting his unbeaten maximum in heat one then Connor Mountain taking the chequered flag in the second.

As mentioned previously with the track seemingly prepared with the number of races due on the night (500cc and 125cc rounds of the British Youth Championship taking place after the Championship encounter) passing was at a premium early doors and anyone who ventured off the inside line quickly found themselves going backwards and often having to retire.

Time and again the home men were the ones firing from the start and with all of the first seven races won by a Scorpion the lead had been built to 16 and a heavy defeat looked on the cards for the Monarchs.

A mini fight back would then ensue as the outside line finally dried out allowing the riders the full use of the race track, heat eight the pick of the bunch as Fredriksen rode a fantastic race to blast his way from last to first and with partner Kye Thomson in third the Monarchs had their first race win and heat advantage of the night.

Better was to come in the next one as tactical substitute Josh Pickering joined teammate Craig Cook at the front to take an away maximum.

A comeback looked well and truly on as Pickering and Fredriksen would hit the front again in heat 11 this bringing the gap down to six.

With all tactical options now gone though the hosts would reassert their dominance heat advantages in the next two heats albeit a questionable one in heat 13 where Pickering was adamant, he had stolen third on the line sealing the victory and all three points.

A mention must go to visiting guest Zach Cook for an excellent ride in the penultimate race also has he cleverly used the inside line to pass Thomson then Fredriksen to take the win.

So, another defeat on the road that sees the Monarchs still on the outside of the playoff positions looking in. It doesn't get any easier either as next up is a trip to current runaway league leaders Oxford next Wednesday night.

Scunthorpe Scorpions 51: Douglas 15, Kemp 3, Lambert 8+1, Z Cook 8+2, Allen 7+1, Ablitt 4, Mountain 6

Stellar Monarchs 39: Pickering 10+1, Borke 5, Thomson 3+2, C Cook 8+1, Wood 0, Fredriksen 13+3

Full Result Details