Speedway – Mark Riss blow to title-chasing Monarchs

SGB Championship: Edinburgh Monarchs 48, Ipswich Witches 40

Edinburgh: Sam Masters 8, Mark Riss (withdrawn through injury) 0, Erik Riss 11, Max Clegg 8, Ricky Wells 11, Josh Pickering 9, Mitchell Davey 1

Ipswich: Danny King 6, Kyle Newman 3, Justin Sedgmen 9, Cameron Heeps 4, Rory Schlein 9, Connor Mountain 3, Nathan Graves 6

Edinburgh Monarchs’ SGB Championship hopes suffered a massive blow when racer Mark Riss was taken to hospital after a crash.

The incident happened in Heat Six of the pace-setters’ home meeting with second-top Ipswich Witches and Riss is believed to have broken fingers and extensive cuts.

The German suffered the injuries after Monarchs’ captain Sam Masters lost control on bend four of the first lap.

The Australian tried to hold on but fell onto the track and he was run over by Riss who then careered into the home straight fence.

Riss was treated on the track by medics and was then taken to hospital in an ambulance. The match suffered a lengthy delay.

In the match Monarchs were six points adrift after Heat Seven but rallied to win 48-40.

A 5-0 in re-run Heat Eight kick-started the comeback and dragged the scoreline back to 23-24 and a 5-1 in Heat 13 courtesy of Ricky Wells and Masters put Monarchs ahead 40-37.

Then Max Clegg won the second-last heat with Josh Pickering in second place with Cameron Heeps and Nathan Graves failing to finish handing the home side a 5-0 scoreline and the sides drew the final heat 3-3.