Monarchs replace Jye Etheridge with Riss' brother Mark

Mark Riss is set to make his Monarchs debut on Friday. Pic: Ron MacNeill

And the 21-year-old German, best known for long-track racing, will make his home debut against Ipswich Witches at Armadale on Friday night.

While he hasn’t ridden that much speedway, Monarchs feel he is a gamble worth taking.

Monarchs team manager Alex Harkess said: “When we initially spoke to both of the Riss brothers, everybody in Germany told us that Mark was the better of the two so we shall soon find out.”

Both Erik and fellow countryman Kevin Wolbert advised Monarchs it would be a good move to bring Mark across and the club felt it was advice worth listening to.

Etheridge’s departure comes as no suprise after failing to make an impression since the season started. Harkess added: “Jye’s average was just one. Had it been three or four,  he would still be here.”

Monarchs were also considering dropping reserve Max Clegg amid rumours that former Monarch Tobias Busch was set to step in and partner Dan Bewley at the tail-end.

But Harkess said: “We did look at the possibility of making a second change but Tobias has been riding in Poland and would have had to come in on a seven-point average which is too high to fit him in.”

Monarchs, the defending league champions, will now hope this switch will help  them push on for a spot in the Premier League play-offs. Currently, they are tenth in the table, four places adrift of the top six which guarantees their inclusion.