BANDITS ARE NEXT UP AT E ARMADAL
Hoping to continue form
The Edinburgh Parsons Peebles Monarchs will be looking to get back into top form when they host the Berwick Bandits on Friday evening.
But it will be an unfamiliar line-up for the home side, with both Ricky Wells and Sam Masters unavailable after being selected to represent USA and Australia respectively in the Speedway World Cup.
However, two former league- winning Monarchs will be making guest appearances for the club as Rory Schlein and Justin Sedgmen will be suiting up for the club.
The duo, both with Ispwich, are in fine form over recent weeks and their knowledge and experience of the Armadale Stadium track will hopefully lessen the blow of missing two of their top riders.
The Bandits are sitting at the foot of the SGB Championship table and will have to cause a major upset if they are to inflict a first home league defeat of the campaign on the Monarchs.
But they too will have a reconfigured team, with Nick Morris missing and injury doubts over reserve duo Jye Etheridge and Lee Payne.
One Monarch who is eager to get back into action is recent returnee Theo Pijper, who penned a short-term deal as an injury replacement for Mark Riss.
He admitted he was not too happy with the way his latest stint at the club started a fortnight ago and hopes for a better outcome on Friday.
He said: “I had a bit of a problem with one of the engines at Redcar. We discovered the fault the next day and changed that for the Friday but I didn’t go as well as I would have liked.
“We spent some days in the workshop to try and get back to what we had before and hopefully it will pay off on Friday. If the bikes are right I am confident that I can do well.”
The Monarchs will certainly be hoping for a vintage performance from the Dutchman as they look to maintain their gap at the top of the SGB Championship.
Gates open at 6.30pm at Armadale Stadium for a 7.30pm start.