Exciting Comets next at Armadale

NEWS Thursday 18th July 2024, 10:45am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs race the Championship newcomers Workington Comets at Armadale this Friday (7:30pm) which means that Monarchs' hero and legend Craig Cook is back in the colours of his local side. The Comets have been a thrilling addition to the Championship this season at their new venue, having returned in the National League in 2023 after being out of the sport since 2018.

The Comets are definitely bidding for one of the Playoff places, their strength lying in their top five in which ex-Grand Prix man Troy Batchelor, former Monarch Claus Vissing and brilliant newcomers Antti Vuolas from Finland and young Aussie Tate Zischke have given great backing to Cook.

Zischke was unfortunately injured recently but his absence will be covered, probably by rider replacement in which all bar Cook are entitled to an extra ride. Otherwise, both teams are at full strength.

Team manager Alex Harkess has found the Monarchs' form hard to explain this year. "It's strange but every time I have gone to Armadale this year thinking 'This is going to be a tough night', then we've won. But on the two nights I've gone to Armadale believing that we should win, we've lost. I don't know why that is."

He is aware of the threat posed by Craig Cook and his colleagues. "Workington have a very strong top two. We know all about Craig Cook more than anybody, what he will score who knows. Hopefully our top two will compete with their top two and we'll be OK. We know what Craig is capable of and he has been doing very well this year, so full marks to him."

Friday's match will be Live Streamed on the British Speedway Network, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 19th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Josh Pickering, Kye Thomson, Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Max James, Connor Coles.

GT TYRES COMETS: Craig Cook (Capt.), rider replacement for Tate Zischke, Antti Vuolas, Claus Vissing, Troy Batchelor, Celina Liebmann, Sam McGurk.

The Championship match will be followed by a Northern Junior League match between Armadale Angels and Workington Meteors.

Full Result Details