A busy week for the Monarchs and the Academy

PREVIEW Tuesday 4th August 2026, 1:00pm

by Iain McArthur

  Edinburgh Monarchs

With two top-of-the-table Championship matches, an important Academy away fixture and some riders doubling and trebling up, it is going to be a very busy week for the Edinburgh Monarchs riders and their bikes this week.

The Monarchs will travel to perennial title contenders Poole on Wednesday before returning to Armadale on Friday for the return match against Glasgow, with all three teams battling for position in the top four play-off places.

In between those fixtures, the Academy face a tricky trip to King's Lynn, where the Young Stars look like a completely different proposition to the patched-up side who lost heavily at Armadale in July.

Tough task in Dorset

Poole Pirates look a little less invincible after their first league defeat of the season at Plymouth last Saturday but they remain the team to beat at Championship level.

The Monarchs were in trouble even before they arrived at Wimborne Road in June for the BSN Series semi-final, with skipper Paco Castagna out, Dan Thompson returning from injury and travel problems for Kye Thomson. The Monarchs slumped to a 60-30 defeat, comfortably their worst display of the season, with only two race winners and no-one reaching double figures.

The Monarchs will expect to improve on that performance but Poole remain a formidable challenge on their home track. No team has scored better than 36 in league matches at Wimborne Road this year, although Plymouth managed 43 in the BSN Series and Berwick repeated that score in the KO Cup semi-final, which got them through.

The Pirates top five is an impressive mix of youth and experience. The only hole in the Pirates line-up is the reserve slot formerly held by Fraser Bowes, who is out for the season. Regular guests Edward Kennett and Luke Harrison have arguably made the team stronger but neither is available for this fixture.

The Monarchs pulled off a thrilling 46-44 home win over the Pirates in the BSN Series semi-final, so they will be more optimistic of beating Poole in the return fixture on the 14th August and it would be a bonus if the aggregate point was a realistic target.

No rest for the riders

The Monarchs will also have one eye on the return leg of the Scottish derby on Friday, especially after a hard-fought draw in the corresponding fixture at Ashfield last Friday. Both Dan Thompson and Kye Thomson have Premiership fixtures on Thursday, so they will have little chance to rest and prepare their bikes with meetings on three consecutive nights.

Dan was also in action for Leicester on Monday this week and his opening heat partner is even busier. Jonatan Grahn will be racing every night this week, starting with Bauhausligan fixtures for Indianerna at Malilla and Vastervik on Monday and Tuesday. After the Poole match, he will return to Sweden for Solkatterna's match in the Allsvenkan before another international dash to Edinburgh on Friday. You might see the 'Dan and Grahn' pair napping in the pits between races.

Difficult test for the Academy

Jordy Loftus is another rider facing three-in-three this week as he'll be joining the Academy team in a trip to King's Lynn that now looks more challenging. Hopefully the young Aussie's hand injury will have healed sufficiently but the extra workload will be a test.

The Young Stars delivered their second win of the season with a resounding 55-35 win at Middlesborough last Saturday. After missing the match at Armadale, Simon Lambert and Jake Mulford were back in the side and delivered 13 and 12 points respectively. Guests Ryan Ingram and Jack Roberts also scored double figures on Teesside and they will both reprise their roles on Thursday, with a further guest still to be named.

Jack Roberts has been a revelation since returning to the sport. The 35-year-old has been riding well and far out-scoring his assessed 2-point average, making him a popular choice as guest and a handy man to have at reserve.

Monarchs Academy have enjoyed the benefit of having former New Zealand champion Ben Whalley at reserve on the same 2-point assessment, but now that he has achieved a "true" average, he will move up to number two to partner Jordy. Moving the other way is Jamie Halder, who has been impressive so far this year and should do well in the reserve slot alongside Anika Loftus.

The Academy should be at full-strength for the first time and can track a very impressive top five with James Shanes, Vinnie Foord and Dayle Wood at 3-5. There is no doubt that this will be a stern test of their title-winning credentials but they have the talent to extend their unbeaten run into September when the league will be won and lost after a series of exciting fixtures.

Nick Morris on Friday

Glasgow have already named Berwick's Nick Morris to guest for Kyle Howarth at Armadale on Friday.

A full preview of Friday's fixture will be available here on the Monarchs website on Thursday.

Wednesday 5th August 2026: Poole Pirates v Edinburgh Monarchs, Cab Direct Championship, Wimborne Road, 7:30pm

POOLE WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Will Cairns, Lewis Kerr, Cooper Rushen, Zach Cook (captain), Guest for Fraser Bowes, Kyle Newman.

ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (captain), Kye Thomson, Mitchell Cluff, Jordy Loftus.

Thursday 6th August 2026: King's Lynn Young Stars v Edinburgh, WSRA National Development League, Adrian Flux Arena, 7:30PM

KING'S LYNN FOSTER COLDSTORES YOUNG STARS: Simon Lambert, Kyran Lyden, Mickie Simpson (captain), Ryan Ingram (guest), Jake Mulford, Guest for Sam Woods, Jack Roberts (guest).

ROSS COMMERCIAL FINANCE MONARCHS ACADEMY: Jordy Loftus, Ben Whalley, James Shanes, Vinnie Foord, Dayle Wood (captain), Anika Loftus, Jamie Halder.