WTF! It’s the 2020 What The Fork Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway team - Liam Rudden

The new takeaway ordering platform, launching this month in the Capital, has signed a two year deal with the Armadale Stadium-based squad ahead of the start of the new season, which sees the 2020 Monarchs take to the track in competition on Friday 10 April against arch rivals Glasgow Tigers.

Before that, there’s a chance for fans to meet the riders old and new at the Season Launch on Thursday 19 March, at the Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre, aka The Egg, at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus.

For the first time, John McGillivray and myself have the honour of presenting the Launch Show and looking ahead to another exciting season as we introduce the... well, that’s what we’ve been debating amongst ourselves since the sponsorship announcement. Do we introduce the WTF Monarchs? Or the What The Fork Monarchs?

Either way, I reckon we’re on a hiding to nothing. WTF Monarchs might raise a giggle in print but doesn’t have the same impact when spoken. So What The Fork Monarchs it is, which already has the team’s faithful taking bets on whether John or I will ‘fork’ it up first during the live weekly stream we presenter for the club. There's even been talk of a swear box for team funds - could make a fortune.

Needless to say, I shall be practising rolling my Rs before stepping in front of the camera as, I’m sure, will John. Of course, it might not be John or myself who slip up first, there’s some money also on stadium announcer Bill Purnell. Time will tell.

Lining up for the 2020 What The Fork Monarchs are a few familiar faces and a couple of new ones. Returning from last year are fans favourites, Australians Josh Pickering and Sam Masters. Josh, as has been said many times, is Mr Entertainment, having provided some of the most spectacular racing over the last couple of seasons, while, Sam has long had a place in fans hearts and is an out and out No 1.

Also returning are William Lawson and James Sarjeant at reserve. Willie, who returned to the sport a couple of seasons back after a lengthy break is the only Scot in the team and capable of being a match winner on the right machinery, and James has huge potential yet to be realised.

Back after a break of a season is Richie Worrall, another rider almost untouchable around The Dale, he ensures the side will have one of the strongest top threes in the Championship.

Joining them will be new boys, Norwegian Lasse Fredriksen and Aussie Kye Thomson, both unknown quantities, if they’re eager enough they could both prove shrewd signings.

And, of course, one of them could be first to slip up when they visit John and I in our Tower Studio. Right, let’s get practising, Forrrk! Forrrk! Forrrk!