Speedway: Clouds gather for Summers and Monarchs after engine blow-out

Published on Thursday 30 April 2009 09:42

AARON SUMMERS is counting the cost of blowing his motor during Edinburgh Monarchs Premier Trophy defeat at Newcastle Diamonds last weekend.

Speaking ahead of the Capital speedway side's visit to Redcar Bears tonight, Summers revealed that, unless he can find some financial assistance, he may not be able to afford to pay his travel costs to his World Under-21 qualifier in the Czech Republic in two weeks' time.

Summers is facing a crippling repair bill after his engine was blown to bits during his last programmed race at Brough Park.

His frame also cracked and the young Australian said that, if anything else goes wrong with his machinery, he may have to pull out of the under-21 championship.

Summers explained: "The bottom end of the engine is ruined and there is a big crack in the frame.

"I'm facing a four-figure bill for sure and I'll be struggling to get to the Czech Republic after this.

"I do have another engine but, if anything else goes wrong, that's it.

"I want to do well in the World Under-21 competition but, if I can't afford it, I can't go. I have to pay for my travel myself."

Summers is especially aggrieved that the seized engine is the one he has been using to great effect round Armadale in recent weeks.

He said: "It was an engine I had built up over the winter and it was really good, it was getting me out of the starts pretty quickly.

"The engine was only three meetings old and it's not really good when that happens."

Summers' teammate Ryan Fisher also blew his engine in the same meeting, which accounted for his poor three-point score.

And, without doubt, Monarchs' loss against a Newcastle side who have struggled so far this season, was a big blow and has left the top of the Premier Trophy northern group qualifying section wide open for the two semi-final places up for grabs. Summers added: "We of course were missing Andy (Tully] and Thomas (Jonasson] through injury, which didn't help because everybody else has to pick things up.

"Ryan's misfortune just added to our problems and it was disappointing that we let the match slip after we were six points up with just three races left."

Monarchs desperately need a win at Redcar, which would secure them four points under the new scoring system.

But Summers, who once rode for Redcar's former Conference League side, the Cubs, warned that the Capital outfit face a tough test.

He said: "I was down at Redcar last week and all of their team seemed to be riding pretty well.

"We will have to be on the ball and get out of the starts to have a chance of victory.

"We must be on top of our game from the word go or we could be in for a hard night."

Redcar easily overcame Glasgow Tigers a week ago and Bears team manager, Brian Havelock, feels his side are capable of lifting some silverware this season.

He said: "I have drummed it into the lads that we must keep up our points-scoring momentum, whatever the reputation of the opposition.

"Edinburgh will be no pushover and are the defending Premier Trophy holders."

Monarchs will be back at full strength for the match with Jonasson and Tully both declaring themselves fit for action after their recent spills.