Edinburgh Monarchs saw a tense match against Oxford Cheetahs on Friday – but the speedway team fought hard to make a comeback and win the day.
Oxford led by six points at two separate stages of Friday’s match but the Monarchs surprised with 5-1 advantages in heats 13 and 15.
Despite a solid performance, Oxford lost the day, walking away with one point while the Monarchs took home the three points.
Oxford put up an impressive display despite missing their track specialist Scott Nicholls.
Monarchs captain Sam Masters admitted that Oxford had put up an excellent performance.
Sam Masters said: “It was a good meeting, good for the fans and we were happy to take the win.
“I’ve got to admit that Oxford had a bit of bad luck with two minute exclusions, but that’s part of it.”
Star duo Sam Masters and Josh Pickering displayed their skills in heat 13 – pulling off a spectacular 5-1 victory at Armadale.
Also impressive at the Friday match were Aaron Summers – who was riding the speedway like he’d never been away, and American Ruml – scoring in all of his seven rides.
The circuit was drier than usual but threatening clouds loomed overhead coupled with a negative forecast.
No rain arrived, meaning riders trying to pass on the outside line had to work hard, and it took a while for the racing to warm up.
Monarchs took six of the first eight last places on Friday’s match – making it look like a decisive victory
for Cheetahs was on the cards.
Heat eight was the first standout heat of the night as Paco Castagna battled on the wide line at every bend, getting ever closer to the team riding Heeps and Ruml, and with a cutback and dash for the line on the final corner he passed Ruml and narrowly missed catching Heeps.
In heat 12, Aaron Summers took a rider replacement ride but suffered a machine failure on the back straight.
Summers wheeled his bike back to the pits but the Oxford pit crew were slow to react, resulting in a two-minute exclusion.
This allowed Monarchs to take the advantage – with Thomson winning from the hard-working Ruml, meaning the home team led by two going into heat 13.
Summers and Ruml took an easy 5-1 in heat 14 leaving Monarchs just two up.
Heat 15 was an easier 5-1 for the two Monarchs’ main men, with just a hint of movement at the tapes from Sam Masters.
Josh Pickering didn’t gate but burst between Summers and Batchelor to join his partner and ensure a 48-42 win for the Edinburgh Monarchs.
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