Speedway: Theo Pijper picking up after being hit with pneumonia

But Monarchs’ co-promoter, John Campbell, is not sure at this stage whether Pijper will be fit to ride in the Capital club’s opening League Cup fixture at Redcar Bears on March 22.

Pijper’s wife Carrie reported: “Theo is starting to improve quite a bit. He has stopped the oxygen and drip and will undergo scans. He is still unwell but is starting to make progress and is getting better.”

Campbell said: “I have not pressed Theo about getting fit for the start of the season because I’m sure he will have lost a lot of strength, we will wait and see how his recovery process goes first.”

Meanwhile, Campbell says that the loss of Newport Wasps from the Premier League due to money troubles is a blow. The Welsh outfit withdrew from the division late last week, and Campbell added: “They had put together one of the best teams in the league for this season and to lose them is unfortunate.

“They have been struggling on for some time now, finance has been the problem for them and it finally became too much for them. It means we will lose two fixtures as a consequence, but will fit something else in to cover our home date.”

Monarchs’ new Aussie signing Micky Dyer is due to fly into Scotland a week on Saturday and, providing he isn’t suffering from jet lag, will be present at Monarchs’ pre-season video show at the Thomas Morton Hall later that evening.