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A night of high drama and great excitement and entertainment. Edinburgh really missed Paco although Sedgy did great as a stand in captain. Very pleased for Max Perry. Well done to the Tigers and good luck in the final.

3 Guests for Glasgow!

Will Monarchs get the 1 point the need to guarantee a place in the play-offs? They'll have to be at their very best to do it against a very strong Glasgow side. Jacob Hook guests for Villads Nagel and I must say it's very pleasing to see Jacob showing some real signs of progress this season. Friday 22nd August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Michael Palm Toft, Kye Thomson, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Chris Harris (Capt.), Jacob Hook (Guest), Dan Thompson, Leon Flint, Kyle Howarth, Freddy Hodder, Max Perry.

Think this will be a lot closer than the cup match earlier in the season. Monarchs licking their wounds from a mauling at Ashfield on Wednesday. Teams from Edinburgh website: Friday 15th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Michael Palm Toft, Kye Thomson, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. GT TYRES COMETS: Troy Batchelor (Capt.), Fraser Bowes, Antti Vuolas, Jye Etheridge, Tate Zischke, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord.

No Victor Palovaara for Edinburgh due to illness and they go with R/R. Given the recent performances of both teams this should be fine, but I've got a sneaky suspicion this might be quite a tough fixture. Teams from Edinburgh website: Friday 8th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Rider replacement for Victor Palovaara, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. ELLIE ROSE SCORPIONS: Steve Worrall, Zaine Kennedy, Luke Harrison, Connor Mountain, Jake Allen, Declan Kennedy, Simon Lambert (Capt.)

For the second home match running Monarchs face a big name rider returning to the sport after some time out. And like Scott Nicholls, Nick Morris has always been comfortable riding Armadale and has been one of the top visiting riders to the West Lothian track. Will he hit the ground running or take some time to settle back. The betting must surely be on the latter given the amount of time he has not been riding. Bandits other recent signing, Jonas Jeppesen, makes his Armadale debut and it will be interesting to see how he takes to the tight confines of the track. So, with some question marks over the visitors and with the home side returning from a confidence boosting win at Scunthorpe, I'm going for a reasonably comfortable home win. Teams from Edinburgh website: Friday 1st August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. R.E.D. BANDITS: Nick Morris, Sam Hagon, Jonas Jeppesen, Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith.

The new look Gladiators are in town and Monarchs will have to improve greatly on the second half of their meeting last night at Poole to win this one. It will be interesting to see how Scott Nicholls (arguably the best ever visiting rider around Armadale) goes on his return from long-term injury. Plymouth also have recent former Monarchs in Lasse Fredriksen and Jacob Hook (guesting for the recovering Ben Barker). The home side will be looking for improvement from MPT, but personally I'm enjoying watching the progress of Jordy Loftus, who had another fine race last night beating William Cairns. Friday 18th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Plymouth Gladiators (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. GLADIATORS: Scott Nicholls, Lasse Fredriksen, Jacob Hook, Joe Thompson, Nicolai Klindt, Alfie Bowtell, Arran Butcher.

You were saying about Tate? He looks to have been getting his confidence back in recent weeks and his style looks suited to Armadale to me. Obviously struggled on his first Armadale appearance but always likely to improve on his second.

It's almost like starting a new season it's been so long since there was speedway at Armadale. Weather no problem today - it's scorchio. Redcar have Tate Zischke and William Cairns guesting. William was brilliant at Armadale in the NDL match scoring an 18 point max, much of it from the back. How will he fare at championship level - pretty good is my guess. Teams from Edinburgh website: Friday 11th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. AGILIA BEARS: Charles Wright (Capt.), Will Cairns, Jason Edwards, Tate Zischke, Danny King, Jody Scott, Ace Pijper.

Weather looking a bit iffy again (we are in summer, aren't we?) but this looks like it could be a close encounter between 2 full-strength teams. Will be interesting to see how Jordy Loftus goes on his first experience of the Armadale track. Teams from Monarchs website: Friday 4th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. R.E.D. BANDITS: Craig Cook, Sam Hagon, Danyon Hume (Capt.), Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith.

Assuming the weather plays ball this should be another close contest. Victor Palovaara is away representing Sweden at the Euro Team Championships so Richard Lawson comes in to guest, and he is one of the few who might match Victor's Armadale scoring. Joe Thompson guests for Jason Edwards for Redcar. With Redcar now looking much stronger at reserve, I think this will be tough for Monarchs to win, let alone get the bonus point. Teams from Edinburgh website: Friday 27th June: Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Richard Lawson, Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. AGILIA BEARS: Charles Wright (Capt.), Jake Mulford, Joe Thompson, Danny King, Erik Riss, Jody Scott, Ace Pijper.

Well I, for one, was screaming at my computer screen to put Jordy in heat 9 (like they did at Oxford) against a tough pairing. Agree about heat 12 - so frustrating to have it pulled back after Jonatan had made the start and Sedgy looked likely to join him for a 5-1. Although you could clearly hear the klaxon sound just before the tapes went up. No idea why though. Good competitive display by a solid Monarchs side - especially Paco and MPT. Jordy looks like a good stylish rider and was pressing Jody in heat 14 - I'm sure a few points will start to come as he gains experience. Also great to see Ace starting to re-discover some good form. Well done to the Bears.

No home match for Monarchs this week, instead they continue their travels to Redcar following their win at Oxford on Wednesday. Confidence should be high but Redcar have a formidable heat leader trio which will test Edinburgh's more solid line-up. Returning to an old home track should help Michael Palm Toft knock off some of his race rustiness, and new young reserve Jordy Loftus has experience of the Redcar track having scored 10+3 there for the Academy on Sunday. It will still be a bonus if he picks up any points with the Redcar reserves both showing good recent form. Tate Zischke guests for the injured Jason Edwards for the Bears. Teams from Redcar website: Redcar “Agilia” Bears 1 – Charles Wright (C) 8.80 2 – Jake Mulford 4.87 3 – Tate Zischke 6.23 (G) 4 – Danny King 8.47 5 – Erik Riss 7.17 6 – Jody Scott 2.00 7 – Ace Pijper 3.21 TM: Gavin Parr EDINBURGH MONARCHS 1. Victor Palovaara 9.30 2. Kye Thomson 5.53 3. Justin Sedgmen 7.35 4. Paco Castagna (C) 6.92 5. Michael Palm Toft 7.80 6. Jonatan Grahn 3.36 7. Jordy Loftus 2.00 TM: John Campbell

All change this Friday. Edinburgh bring in new signing Michael Palm Toft but have R/R for Paco (away at SGP qualifying). Oxford also have riders away or injured and bring in 4 guests - former Monarchs Fredriksen and Hook plus Ben Morley and Jody Scott. (Plus there is still some doubt about Cameron Heeps fitness.) A bit worrying that Palm Toft has not ridden at all this season, hopefully Edinburgh have managed to arrange some practice at Armadale for him. Great to see Sam back as ever. Could be another close one. Friday 6th June: Edinburgh Monarchs v Oxford Cheetahs (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Michael Palm Toft, rider replacement for Paco Castagna, Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen (Capt.), Victor Palovaara, Mark Parker. S D TIMMO CHEETAHS: Sam Masters (Capt.), Ben Morley, Lasse Fredriksen, Jordan Jenkins. Cameron Heeps, Jody Scott, Jacob Hook.

6.25 in 2019 was his last average.