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STELLAR MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Drew Kemp (guest), Kye Thomson, Bastian Borke, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood, Max Clegg. MONARCH CHEETAHS: Sam Masters, Henry Atkins, Lewis Kerr, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls (captain), Cameron Heeps, Luke Killeen. The teams drew 45-45 earlier in the season in the cup but can't really read anything in to that as Monarchs only have two riders in their team who were in that meeting (Craig & Kye), which is a good indication of how the season has gone. Looks like another tough one but should be a joy as always to watch Sam and Scott around the Dale.

Chris was asked about it by Paul Bowen on BSN on Friday and said he just wanted a good old moan about British Speedway which he thinks needs a big shake up from top to bottom. He thinks now is the time to save British Speedway which is losing tracks and riders coming through who 'don't get the chances'. Now he's been dropped he knows how it feels, but he doesn't hold grudges and spoke to Stuart at Leicester on Wednesday when he was there with his little boy.

Fantastic news!

I think Issue 20 eff 2/8 is just for the highlighted rider Luke Killeen. If you look at issue 19 it shows Jenkins' average going to 5.59 eff 1/8. There are quite often mistakes in these spreadsheets and I think someone has just forgotten to update the Oxford figures. But if you're right, I'd be quite happy to see Jordan Jenkins guesting for Paco, although obviously on last week's form Kye will be a huge miss.

Column B is the weighted home average. Column C is for a new average usually from the 1st of the month, which gets moved to column A when the month starts, but for some reason Oxford's August averages seem to have remained in Col. C.

Jenkins 5.59 from what I can see (Oxford's August averages still in column C for some reason).

Jenkins too high to guest for Paco, I think. He could guest for Kye.

Don't think it will be a massacre but it does make things much easier for Poole. Looking at potential guests I assume it will be a guest for Paco and R/R for Kye allowing Josh one of the R/R rides. If available Cam Heeps may be the best bet or James Pearson after his performance last week or a rejuvenated Dan Thompson? They were just mentioning on the preview show that Kye was the only rider not to miss a match through injury this season -and even then Paco said Kye had ridden through an injury. Get well soon, Kye.

Max Clegg back for Edinburgh from Friday, presumably as 28 day cover for Lasse. MAX CLEGG BACK WITH STELLAR MONARCHS NEWS Monday 31st July 2023, 12:40pm by Mike Hunter Edinburgh Monarchs Edinburgh fans know Max Clegg well because he was a pretty regular team member in the years 2014 to 2018, and has recently performed wonders for the Monarchs Academy National League team, so he will need no introduction when he steps in to the Stellar Monarchs' side to face champions Poole at Armadale on Friday. He slips into the position unfortunately vacated by Lasse Fredriksen due to his broken wrist, and mercifully removes the need to be continually looking for guest riders. Sniffling through hay fever, Max said "I'm 100% ready, it's something I'm quite used to now coming to Edinburgh, they have brilliant fans, a great promotion and a well-prepared track so I'm really looking forward to it. I've had some really good years at Edinburgh in my career and I'm pleased to be rejoining, even if it's only a few meetings. "I feel really good, I'm enjoying riding my bike again, which is another reason why I've agreed to come back to Championship racing. My aim this year was to enjoy racing and see what happens. I'm confident and I feel I've got a lot of speed". In his three home meetings for the Stellar Monarchs Academy this season Max has dropped just a single point in 15 rides, that being in the final heat last Friday against Berwick Bullets. "That's one point more then I wanted to drop," he said. "I'm using the same bikes I've always used and I've been putting in times as good as the Championship times. I do keep an eye on that sort of thing. At the start of the season I had a lot of bike issues which tends to happen to me in early season, but I've fixed that now and I feel a different rider. "I've been in the team with Picko and Craig before and I know most of them. I feel the team is really strong and I think we can finish the season off really well. Anything's possible, I'm confident. "Poole won't be an easy meeting on Friday but then no meeting's easy is it. I'm confident, especially at home against anyone we have to race. We need the whole team to click." Max will be combining his speedway with work commitments but sees no problem arising. "My gaffer's really good with giving me time off". Max joins the team from this Friday's home match against Poole Pirates onwards. Jason Edwards is lined up to guest for the team's away matches this week at Plymouth Gladiators (Tuesday) and Poole Pirates (Wednesday). The change is subject to BSPL approval.

Now R/R for Greg Blair. From Berwick website: "Greg Blair has also been forced to admit that he is not fit to race after his heavy fall against Monarchs Academy, in particular a big bang to his head."

Second half of Edinburgh/Berwick double header with 4 riders involved in both matches. Interesting to see how Bullets new signing Steve Boxall goes. Edinburgh Monarchs Academy: 1. Adam Roynan (c) 9.27, 2. Mark Parker 3.00, 3. R/R for Alex Spooner 5.07, 4. Max Perry (Guest for Jacob Hook 7.80), 5.Max Clegg 8.40, 6. Mickie Simpson 3.00, 7. Dayle Wood 3.00. Berwick Bullets: 1. Connor Coles 8.00, 2. Jamie Halder 4.83, 3. Greg Blair (c) 6.79, 4. Danny Phillips 7.30, 5. Steve Boxall 7.97, 6. Kieran Douglas 3.45, 7. Mason Watson 3.44. Teams from EMTV Preview Show.

Having reversed the early season defeat at Berwick on Saturday, can the patched up Monarchs do the same at home? For Bandits Rory is back from injury and James Pearson guests for Jacob Hook while Monarchs have R/R for Paco and Adam Roynon guesting for Lasse. Early start at 7pm to fit in Double Header NDL match. Teams (from EMTV Preview Show): Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs - 1. Josh Pickering (c) 8.92, 2. Bastian Borke 5.00, 3. Kye Thomson 6.67, 4. R/R for Paco Castangna 5.15, 5. Craig Cook 8.81, 6. Dayle Wood 2.00, 7. Adam Roynon (Guest for Lasse Fredriksen 4.53), 8.Mark Parker 2.00. Berwick Bandits - 1. Rory Schlein 7.69, 2. Jonas Knudsen 5.83, 3. Jye Etheridge 6.07, 4. Leon Flint (c) 7.04, 5. Thomas Jorgensen 7.04, 6. James Pearson (Guest for Jacob Hook 4.00), 7. Connor Coles 2.42.

Fantastic meeting last night. Obviously helps if you're a Monarchs fan but I thought it had everything - drama, excitement, emotion, great racing, close scores & controversy. Someone forgot to tell Bastian Borke that you can't pass at Berwick - he was sensational for a first time visitor.

Looking forward to watching this on BSN tonight. Hope they continue filming from the back straight, as they did for the Under-21 final, as it makes watching the close finishes at Ashfield even better.

Adam would fit, and he scored 14 at Berwick for the Academy recently. Much harder scoring points in the Championship though.

I think Max's average is slightly too high. I think either Cam Heeps or Jason Edwards.

This shows why the air fence moved so much!

Colts at full strength but Monarchs Academy without 4 of their team. BELLE VUE: James Pearson, Matt Marson, Sam Hagon, Freddy Hodder, Jack Smith, Paul Bowen, Luke Muff. EDINBURGH: Connor Coles (Guest for Adam Roynan), Alex Spooner r/r, Mark Parker (Guest for Kyran Lyden), Ashton Boughen (Guest for Jacob Hook), Max Clegg, Mickie Simpson, Dayle Wood.

Excellent meeting and a fantastic final. Congratulations to Connor Bailey who, after his first heat, looked unbeatable no matter where he was out of the start. All 4 finalists deserve huge credit and really good to see Dan T return to some great (and very exciting) form - he very nearly won it.

Plaudits to the track staff for producing a fine racing surface after days of heavy rain and with a forecast of more on the day. The match wasn't overly exciting mainly due to the home riders having their gating gloves on, but it was a confidence-boosting big win. There were 3 or 4 very good heats mainly involving Dayle Wood and Luke Harrison. Luke was the pick of the visitors showing great track craft for one so young (I remember being impressed with him last year on a 250cc in the British Youth Championships). Lee Complin gave it his all as usual and I thought Harry McGurk rode and scored steadily given his recent dip in form. Ace had a rare Armadale off-night but looking forward to seeing him plus Mickie Simpson and Sam McGurk pit their skills against the more experienced under-21s at Glasgow today.

Edinburgh update at 1pm shows Hook back in for Monarchs Academy but still Complin showing as a guest for Workington.

I watched the stream last night as there was no stream at Oxford where my team was riding. I didn't get full access until heat 9 but I must say the entertainment in those last 7 heats was better than a lot of full matches I've watched this season. I've since watched the whole match using the 'rewind' function and it also included most of the previous year's match against Glasgow. I also got a reply to my email about the problem. I definitely feel I got value for the £11.99 I paid and won't be asking for a refund. I watch a lot of speedway using streaming services and most, if not all, run into technical problems now and again. It's usually outwith their control and they try their best to sort the situation as quickly as possible. I'm just happy I can see so much speedway these days - I'm old enough to remember having to wait until the following morning to buy a Daily Mirror to find out how your team got on the previous night.

I've only seen 4 heats on the stream so far, but the racing has been pretty good with passing in all of these. Heat 12 a classic!

Finally saw a heat on the stream - heat 9. Hard move by Starke on Basso to get on a 5-1 but then Lee Complin with a storming ride round the outside of Starke to limit the damage.

Yes. Lots of buffering, now stopped completely.