Full strength Plymouth will be a threat

NEWS Tuesday 21st July 2026, 6:06pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Monarchs this Friday take on Plymouth Gladiators at Armadale in an important Championship fixture with the two match points and the aggregate bonus available. As Monarchs won at Plymouth in June, any win for the home side will mean they take all three points.

Sounds simple. But this week the Gladiators have returned to full strength and will bring their formidable heat leader trio of Danny King, Scott Nicholls and Ben Barker north – by any measure King and Nicholls are two of the most proficient Armadale specialists, and Barker also is a combative character who has a recent maximum at Armadale on his record.

Monarchs will be doing battle without their captain Paco Castagna who has once again landed the wild card for this weekend's Grand Prix Challenge – the last step before the Grand Prix itself. It might sound unlikely for the rider fourth in Monarchs' averages, but he represents his home country in the event at Lonigo, and he is multiple Italian Champion.

There are no suitable guests available so rider replacement will apply, for Friday and probably also for the trip to Workington on Saturday. Monarchs' reserves will be likely to take ten rides between them so their performance will be crucial, as will be the form of Plymouth's two eastern European riders on their Armadale debut.

Team Manager Alex Harkess is obviously looking for three points to consolidate his team's third spot in the Championship table. "Plymouth arrive on Friday with three very good heat leaders who would expect to match anyone – if they are all fit. Whether they can match Edinburgh at Armadale – that is something again. We are already ahead for the bonus point so all we have to do is win the match. I'd like to think we'll do that, and do that well. The reserves will be important as always – Mitch now believes he has a bike that goes, and Jordy for sure believes he knows his way round Armadale now."

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

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 24th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Plymouth Gladiators (Championship, Armadale, 7:30pm)

ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, rider replacement for Paco Castagna, Justin Sedgmen (capt.), Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus.

OBM GLADIATORS: Danny King, Joe Thompson, Daniel Klima, Ben Barker (capt.), Scott Nicholls, Anze Grmek, Ben Whalley.

Following the match there will be four races of a Vintage Bike display, Scotland v England. The bikes will be displayed prior to the meeting. And of course it is Ed the Monarch's birthday!