Sam Masters, a former captain of Edinburgh Monarchs, will lead Oxford Cheetahs against his former club at Armadale on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm).
And Monarachs’ team manager, Alex Harkess, warned his men that they face tough opposition in this Cab Direct Championship clash.
Dan Thompson, Edinburgh’s No 1, is still on the injured list with a broken collar bone. Drew Kemp guests.
Kemp rode for Berwick in the Championship last year but is this year restricting his UK racing to Leicester in the Premiership. He has a good Armadale record.
Oxford have problems with Erik Riss, also a former Monarchs’ captain, suffering from illness which has hampered his career badly in recent times.
Cheetahs will use rider replacement for Riss and also have Alfie Bowtell guesting for Mitch McDiarmid. The battle at reserve will be important with in-form Dayle Wood in the visiting side up against the improving Monarchs’ reserves.
Harkess said: “We need everybody at their absolute best. I think we can beat everyone, certainly at home, but the trouble is we don’t get everybody doing their very best all the time.”
For the record, Monarchs completed a home and away double over Oxford last season and Cheetahs last won at Armadale in 2023.
Friday’s match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.
ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Drew Kemp (guest), Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus.
S D TIMMO CAR SALES CHEETAHS: Sam Masters, rider replacement for Erik Riss, Alfie Bowtell (guest), Luke Killeen, Anders Rowe, Darryl Ritchings, Dayle Wood.
TOP MAN: Dan Thompson on top of the podium at the Ben Fund event in Glasgow, now he is sidelined with injury. Picture Taylor Lanning
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