Speedway: Monarchs stung by Wasps with Gjedde at the helm

The force was certainly with Charlie Gjedde at Armadale last night as the Newport Wasps No.1 led his side to a shock 45-44 Premier League win over an Edinburgh Monarchs side who frittered away a 12-point lead they held after just six races.

Monarchs returned to bad old ways as they tossed away points like confetti. Reserve Kyle Howarth fell off twice in the space of three heats, and Kevin Wolbert wasn’t immune either as he tumbled to the ground in heat 13 which also saw Wasps star Leigh Lanham disqualified from the rerun after blowing his engine which caused him to bring down Craig Cook on the third bend.

Gjedde won the restart against Cook and this 3-2 advantage left the Wasps just one point in arrears with two races to go. The Welshmen did fantastically well to get themselves back into the match and a 4-2 from Gjedde and Robin Aspegren in a nail biting heat 15 finale saw the visitors edge out Monarchs by the slenderest of margins.