Tough start for the Monarchs.

The Fulfilment Factory Monarchs open their 2002 Premier League campaign this Friday with a visit from one of the top sides, the Isle of Wight Islanders. Revenge may be on the Monarchs' minds as the Islanders beat Edinburgh in the final of the Young Shield Playoffs last season.

The Islanders opened their League campaign with a great victory at Workington last Saturday and present Edinburgh with a very tough opener. Their heat leaders - experienced Ray Morton plus brilliant youngsters Danny Bird and Adam Shields - are as good as anyone's, and French star Seb Tresarrieu is improving fast.

They have lost young reserve Dan Giffard with a broken wrist sustained at Newcastle, but bring in the more experienced Justin Elkins who rode for Monarchs in 1999. In spite of his well-earned reputation for breakdowns, Elkins is good enough to score a few points.

Edinburgh Captain Peter Carr is still to find top form this season thanks to problems with his new engines. However he said this week that he is having difficulty with his knee brace, which he has worn since suffering a severe leg injury last June. He said: "It seems to be all right for away matches, but at Armadale if I don't go into the corner just right then I find it difficult to adjust. I'm thinking of riding home matches without the brace, even though it might be a bit risky."

Good news for Monarchs' young Australian reserve Rory Schlein is that he'd been allocated team mate Christian Henry's place in the World Under-21 Championship as one of the Australian representatives. After only recently recovering from a winter injury, wants to concentrate on reaching his best club form after his late start and the Under-21 position has been offered by Neil Street to Rory Schlein.

Schlein will take up in spite of the financial implications, and he goes to Austria on 5th May. It is an unfortunate fact that riders lose money, sometimes a great deal, by competing in the competition. "We're behind the 8-ball with our finances anyway due to bike problems but we have to take the chance," says Rory's dad Lyndon, "but if there are any sponsors out there we sure would be grateful."

Meanwhile, newly retired ex-Monarch Jan Andersen was pleased with the way his 'farewell hoedown' went last Friday night saying: "It was the best night of my life, well, apart from my wedding that is"

Teams for Friday

Edinburgh:
Frede Schott, Ben Shields, Dalle Andersson, Christian Henry, Peter Carr (capt.), Theo Pijper, Rory Schlein.

Isle of Wight:
Danny Bird, Matt Read, Ray Morton (capt.), Sebastian Tresarrieu, Adam Shields, Nick Simmons, Justin Elkins.