Edinburgh Monarchs square-up to Glasgow Tigers in biggest test to date in SGB Championship

What the Fork Monarchs face their biggest test to date on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm) against a Glasgow Tigers side which many have marked down as favourites for silverware this season.

Tigers’ fans will certainly travel with high expectations of a side headed by former Monarchs skipper Craig Cook and experienced Ulrich Ostergaard and backed by a team with no apparent weak links.

Dane Benjamin Basso and English-born Tom Brennan are considered by experts to be two of the best prospects in world speedway.

Monarchs fans have seen their favourites record three wins in four matches so far and team manager Alex Harkess said: “Considering the amount of matches we’ve had, I’m happy with them. The fact that we’ve got four riders based in Edinburgh has been a good thing. They seem to have settled well.”

Looking at Friday’s opposition, Harkess (left), pictured with co-promoter John Campbell (by Nigel Duncan) said: “This week is obviously harder. It’s never an easy fixture no matter what the record books might say.

“They have riders that are more than capable of doing well round Armadale, we’ve seen it all in the past, so it is up to us to not let them get in front. That’s the plan. It will not be easy.”

Cook is actually on loan from Edinburgh to Glasgow while Monarchs’ No 7, James Sarjeant, has been loaned in the opposite direction, and he is in-form have been unbeaten from his four rides last Friday.

Cumbria-based Sarjeant said: “Friday night will be a lot tougher. Glasgow is probably our toughest home match so far. Obviously, we’ll all be up for that.”

The main event will be followed by a junior challenge fixture between the West Lothian Wildcats and the Armadale Angels featuring four graduates from the Monarchs’ Academy on 125cc machines. These two teams will represent the club in the Northern Junior League this season.

Friday’s match will be live streamed and details are on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk

WTF MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt), Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Jacob Hook, James Sarjeant.

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Craig Cook, Broc Nicol, Ulrich Ostergaard (capt), Benjamin Basso, Tom Brennan, Danyon Hume, Connor Bailey.