TALENTED prospect Bastian Borke has joined Edinburgh as the Monarchs try to turn around their stuttering season.
The Monarchs moved quickly after they were thumped by 18 points at home to Scunthorpe last Friday and have made two changes with Australian rookie Dayle Wood also coming into the line-up.
While the Scottish side were seriously weakened before the start – they were already missing Josh Pickering with a shoulder injury and also went into the match without Craig Cook, suffering from a back injury, and Italian Paco Castagna who was starring in the Grand Prix qualifier at hometown track Lonigo – but the manner of the defeat left fans deflated.
It convinced the Edinburgh management that they needed to make changes and out go British youngster Kyle Bickley, 21, and Aussie Jacob Hook, 20, who have both struggled this season.
Borke, 20, is a Danish Under 21 international who has been keen to race in Britain since a move to join Plymouth in the winter fell through because he was saddled with a five-point average that ruled him out of a team place with the Devon club.
But now Edinburgh have offered him the chance after being impressed with his performances this season.
He only just missed out on the SGP2 (the old World Under 21 Championship) series after finishing fifth in the qualifier at Krsko, Slovenia, with 10 points, coincidentally ahead of both Bickley and Hook. He has, however, been named as one of the reserves for the three-round series.
He said: “I think I will learn a lot in Britain and I am looking forward to coming over. I will have my first meeting on June 9th.”
Borke, a member of Nicki Pedersen’s Danish Under 21 and Under 23 squads, has been riding and averaging over seven points a match in the Polish Under 24 Ekstraliga for unbeaten top-of-the-table Krosno and is also racing in Slangerup’s colours in his native Denmark.
A Monarchs’ statement read: “Unfortunately after two home league defeats we recognise that the team is not coming up to supporters’ expectations (partly but not entirely due to bad luck) so action has had to be taken.
“This means we have had to drop both Kyle and Jacob, young riders who we had hoped to bring the best out of this season.”
Bickley is in his first season at Armadale while Hook made his Monarchs’ debut last year. Both youngsters will remain at the club, riding regularly for the National Development League team.
Words by Holeshot Media.
Image courtesy of Bastian Borke Facebook.