Undermanned Comets Cannot Be Underestimated

PREVIEW Friday 19th July 2024, 1:29pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs are back in Championship action on Friday evening as the Workington Comets make their first visit to Armadale at this level since 2018 looking to quell any aim of the home men moving up the table.

The Comets are chasing a playoff position but come into this one undermanned, Tate Zischke saw his season end at Belle Vue the other week with a list of horrific sounding injuries that everyone hopes will not hinder a very promising start to his European career. Rider replacement in operation with all other Comets apart from number one Craig Cook eligible.

A further blow for the Comets came with the news that Claus Vissing cannot be in attendance, the former Monarch man's flight to the UK being grounded by the global IT issues affecting many, at time of writing Claus' replacement had not been confirmed.

Elsewhere the visitors are led by Monarchs legend Craig Cook and with another former GP man Troy Batchelor providing the main back-up, Batchelor figuring to be key in this one with a potential minimum six ride night ahead.

Even giving for the absence of Zischke there will be a lot of intrigue within the rest of the line-up Antti Vuolas is another having a tremendous debut season in the UK his performances at the SON alongside the Comets gaining him interest from Belle Vue.

Celina Liebmann is trailblazing as the first female to ride at this level and while it has been a bit tougher going for the German than the likes of Vuolas and Zischke the FIM Gold Medal winner is getting better as the season progresses.

Sam McGurk is a Monarchs Academy rider also albeit having only had one home match at NDL level it may still be a relative trip into the unknown for the youngster.

On the home side of the pits it is as you were as a settled looking line-up takes the track, even though it has been two weeks since the last team action the Monarchs men have kept them selves busy with international and top level meetings for Josh Pickering and Justin Sedgmen, SON exploits for Paco, Swedish league action for Lasse and Kye and NDL work for Connor.

Max James the only that has not had any competitive action since the defeat to Redcar two weeks ago.

So, it is a settled and sharp Monarchs line-up that will go into action with tapes up at 19.30, the British Speedway Network in town to show all the action.

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