Bikers revving up for cup challenge
Sheffield bound for quarter-final clash
The Parsons Peebles Monarchs are up for the cup this week as they travel to Sheffield tonight (Thursday) for the second leg of the their KO Cup quarter-final clash.
It would have to be said, though, that the Monarchs will go into the tie as underdogs after struggling to a narrow four point advantage in the home leg back in April.
On that night the hosts were routinely bettered out of the starting gates as the Tigers raced to a 10 point lead before being pegged back.
While the Armadale Stadium men did manage to claw their way back, they are in no doubt that another start like that night will bring an end to the cup dreams for another year.
Thursday starts a busy spell for the club with no less than seven further matches planned for June after the cup tie.
First of these are at Armadale on Friday night when the same opposition travel north of the border in league action.
This will be another tough task for the Monarchs but one man who is relishing the busy spell is newcomer Josh Pickering.
In his first year of British speedway, the youngster is looking forward to the challenge, saying: “I’m not making excuses but most of the boys double up or race somewhere else so they are all riding regularly.
“For me it goes Friday then if the Monarchs have no away matches, it’s the next Friday before I’m back on the bike then it takes a race or so for me to get warmed back up again. So if I’m racing more regularly it’s easier but it’s the way things are and I need to make the most of it.”
Pickering made a dream start to his Monarchs career but has found the going a little tougher recently after a couple of big crashes, but after two encouraging performances, he feels he is back.
“Confidence has been a big thing the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“Everything was going good but after that big crash at Newcastle and a couple at home as well it throws it all out the window.
“All the good work I had done up to that point just goes out the window and it’s like you are starting from scratch again.
“I spoke to Darcy Ward during the week and took some advice on starting and went back to basics and it seemed to help.”
Off the track, the Monarchs will have a presence at the Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival on Saturday with the Monarchs Fans Trust manning a stall with giveaways in store.