Monarchs vs Lions May 13th

[Teromaafan]

Would have settled for a point before the meeting so delighted with 4 points. Whilst the Lions will be one of the stronger teams to visit Edinburgh this season, their reliance on Masters and Pickering will most likely cost them a play off place. Other than this pair, they only had one other race winner tonight. The writing is on the wall (whatever that means) when you need to use tactical substitutions at home. A pat on the back for Bickley tonight as it is highly unlikely that Rowe would have scored more than him.

[King Jamie]

Friday the 13th lived up to its name as the Monarchs delivered a truly dreadful performance.

The evening got off to the worst possible start as the lack of pre meeting parade meant we couldn't boo Richie Worrall and things didn't improve with James Sarjeant doing his best Justin Elkins impression throughout.

Having fallen 6 points behind, heat 6 looked the ideal opportunity to hit back straight away. That is, of course, unless you're the Monarchs management, who promptly left the lineup as per programme. The resulting 4-2 meant the gap was closed. However, somewhat embarrassingly, it only went the other way thereafter.

The tactical substitute eventually arrived in heat 11, as Jacob was Hooked and replaced by another Aussie who was only marginally better on the night.

As the Lions roared away into the distance (hats off for an excellent team display), the home fans yearned for better days ahead. Team changes were tentatively mentioned in conversation. One or two are unhappy with the Italian plumber, who obviously left his best bikes at Eurovision. Sadly though, it seems young Fredriksen is the most likely candidate for the chop. Should that happen, let's just hope we don't involve Police Scotland. They don't exactly have a particularly good record when it comes to Lasses.

Roll on next Friday. Hopefully we might score 40 for a change...

[lbw]

Well done to the Lions on the big win 

[Paulco]

Looks like a trip to the Hillman Imp arena is a guaranteed 4 points to the league's big hitters 

[Mr Blobby]

Poor night overall, bottom end cost us tonight big time. Sarj with a off night, new baby abs sleepless nights probably doesn’t help. 
Lasse and Jacob struggling with the conditions last night probably never rode a track like it. 
much better from kye. Paco is frustrating as takes him 2/3 rides to actually be competitive which isn’t much good. 
 

worrall and Morris very good for the visitors. Other than that they were pretty ordinary and done the job required. Improvement needed or a couple of changes may be on the horizon.

[snapper]

Looks like it is time to get a couple of racesuits ordered 

[Skodaman]

12 hours ago, ScottyJ said:

From a lions fan I didn't see us winning by that score. Thomson twins have struggled away from home and have missed Rowe tonight as well...reverse is a concern for you lot . 2 best riders in the league for Edinburgh and the rest are miles off in that team

Joe didn't have a bad night!

[FishersGate]

23 minutes ago, Skodaman said:

Joe didn't have a bad night!

I think it's one Joe's best nights away from home in a while!

[Gr8scot]

23 hours ago, ScottyJ said:

Think it will be close but the monarchs to edge it. Think the difference will be simply masters and Pickering. But I do think it will be close ! Wonder what reception ritchy will get 

I think you will find most Monarchs fans are very fond of Ritchie (King Jamie aside).  I wish he had returned this year

Congratulations to Leicester and nice to meet their happy travelling contingent

[Gr8scot]

7 hours ago, snapper said:

Looks like it is time to get a couple of racesuits ordered 

One size fits all 

[lbw]

https://youtu.be/NvcTKEPf7tE

Monarchs vs Lions .....a race for the Monarchs fans 

Edited May 15, 2022 by Turnip

[King Jamie]

On 5/14/2022 at 9:17 AM, Mr Blobby said:

Poor night overall, bottom end cost us tonight big time.

While you're quick to call out the bottom end, are you not concerned about the top end too?

Take Sam Masters. After an excellent heat 1 and an untroubled heat 6, he promptly won just one of his last four outings (a race he shouldn't even have been in). Following on from the previous home meeting, he's now won just 4 of his last 12 races at sunny Armadale. That is, quite frankly, not good enough and it puts extra pressure on those further down.

He's supposed to be the best rider in the league but, put him out against half decent opposition and he's continually found wanting. He even gave up in one race on Friday. Can't remember if it was 13 or 15 but he visibly stopped trying and piddled round in a safe second place. I don't pay to watch that. I want 100% effort at all times.

We're also not going to win (m)any meetings when our second heat leader only scores 7 from 4. At least Josh is entertaining though.

Moving on to the bottom five, their collective lack of track time isn't exactly helping their cause (Masters and Pickering don't have that problem). The make-up of the side also isn't right.

In hot and cold Castagna, we have a third heat leader who was a reserve last season. Hardly his fault if he's not up to it on a consistent basis.

The glue that is Kye Thomson continues to be the case. He's steadily doing a reasonable job again but also appears expected to pick up the slack from the low scoring number 3. A farcical situation.

Lasse Fredriksen is finding points difficult to come by in the top 5. Again, hardly a shock. Even the haywire Hungarian struggled first time round in 2010.

Jacob Hook has done his job. A third place in each and every heat two. There's consistency for you! His development will be interesting to watch as the season goes on.

And then there's Sarj. All I will say is I hope Friday was a one off.

[Mr Blobby]

6 minutes ago, King Jamie said:

While you're quick to call out the bottom end, are you not concerned about the top end too?

Take Sam Masters. After an excellent heat 1 and an untroubled heat 6, he promptly won just one of his last four outings (a race he shouldn't even have been in). Following on from the previous home meeting, he's now won just 4 of his last 12 races at sunny Armadale. That is, quite frankly, not good enough and it puts extra pressure on those further down.

He's supposed to be the best rider in the league but, put him out against half decent opposition and he's continually found wanting. He even gave up in one race on Friday. Can't remember if it was 13 or 15 but he visibly stopped trying and piddled round in a safe second place. I don't pay to watch that. I want 100% effort at all times.

We're also not going to win (m)any meetings when our second heat leader only scores 7 from 4. At least Josh is entertaining though.

Moving on to the bottom five, their collective lack of track time isn't exactly helping their cause (Masters and Pickering don't have that problem). The make-up of the side also isn't right.

In hot and cold Castagna, we have a third heat leader who was a reserve last season. Hardly his fault if he's not up to it on a consistent basis.

The glue that is Kye Thomson continues to be the case. He's steadily doing a reasonable job again but also appears expected to pick up the slack from the low scoring number 3. A farcical situation.

Lasse Fredriksen is finding points difficult to come by in the top 5. Again, hardly a shock. Even the haywire Hungarian struggled first time round in 2010.

Jacob Hook has done his job. A third place in each and every heat two. There's consistency for you! His development will be interesting to watch as the season goes on.

And then there's Sarj. All I will say is I hope Friday was a one off.

I know they’ve not been happy with track prep all season. It’s apparently been completely different each week so far. Which isn’t any good to anyone. 
 

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, Mr Blobby said:

I know they’ve not been happy with track prep all season. It’s apparently been completely different each week so far. Which isn’t any good to anyone. 
 

That’s all the riders seem to blame these days.Can’t they work it out after 1 race,and get on with it.After all the opposition have too.

Edited May 15, 2022 by Fromafar

[TheScotsman]

5 hours ago, Fromafar said:

That’s all the riders seem to blame these days.Can’t they work it out after 1 race,and get on with it.After all the opposition have too.

And as Max Fricke said when interviewed on Saturday - the track was changing all night so he had to be able to read the change. 

Sounds like maybe other riders can't do that. 

 

 

[Gazc]

18 minutes ago, TheScotsman said:

And as Max Fricke said when interviewed on Saturday - the track was changing all night so he had to be able to read the change. 

Sounds like maybe other riders can't do that. 

 

 

In a nutshell if you have a changeable track you would like too think they would have the know how to do likewise with set up.

if it’s not working don’t persist with it . anyway a week off from Speedway.

Seville bound for a minor football match this week then im on to Tenerife on Friday.

You heading over yourself ?.

[soupy]

11 hours ago, Gazc said:

In a nutshell if you have a changeable track you would like too think they would have the know how to do likewise with set up.

if it’s not working don’t persist with it . anyway a week off from Speedway.

Seville bound for a minor football match this week then im on to Tenerife on Friday.

You heading over yourself ?.

Even though I am not a Rangers fan I hope the win the trophy.

[Bagpuss]

It'd absolutely right that riders need to adapt as required but at the same time I think they are entitled to expect their home track to be very similar each week unless there has been lots of rain. The best teams who hammer others at home frequently generally have settled conditions which don't change from week to week and their riders know exactly want to expect. 

[Fromafar]

6 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

It'd absolutely right that riders need to adapt as required but at the same time I think they are entitled to expect their home track to be very similar each week unless there has been lots of rain. The best teams who hammer others at home frequently generally have settled conditions which don't change from week to week and their riders know exactly want to expect. 

Think the main problem is trying to please certain riders in that respect,always has been in the sport.No way 7 riders will agree on track prep.

[Paulco]

2 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Think the main problem is trying to please certain riders in that respect,always has been in the sport.No way 7 riders will agree on track prep.

We always had that criticism leveled at us from certain quarters . Was said that the track was only prepared to suit Shane Parker   whether there was any truth in that is open to conjecture