Speedway: Monarchs star reckons team's Indian summer is a bonus

Published on Friday 23 October 2009 10:14

THE late-season charge of Edinburgh Monarchs in the silverware stakes has resulted in a surfeit of extra meetings – but one Monarch who isn't complaining is Aussie reserve Aaron Summers whose finances this term collapsed faster than Lehman Brothers.

Summers, who is set to face King's Lynn tonight in the first leg of the Premier Knockout Cup Final at Armadale, today revealed that a high percentage of blown motors has left him almost in penury.

He said: "I've only got one of my own engines at the moment because I've blown so many motors this season and I'll have to pay for the others to be tuned during the winter.

"When you destroy engines you have to buy new ones. And when you are shelling out all the time for machinery you simply have no money left for yourself. So the fact we are facing extra matches so late in the season doesn't bother me, it's a chance to earn some much need cash, providing I don't blow up any more motors!

Scotwaste Monarchs' record in the KO Cup is not an illustrious one. Indeed, Monarchs haven't lifted the trophy since 1999 and rational thinking might conclude that their opponents tonight, King's Lynn Stars, will thwart their ambitions to end this long drought.

However, such logic was turned on its head in midweek when Monarchs brushed aside the Stars to reach the promotion decider against Belle Vue Aces.

The Stars may claim the play-off crown was of limited importance, but the fact Monarchs came very close to winning the second leg at the Norfolk Arena will have planted a seed of doubt in their minds as to whether they really can stop Monarchs stealing the Cup from under their noses.

King's Lynn manager Rob Lyon, who witnessed Monarchs charging to a 20-point lead in the play-off final first leg encounter at the Lothian Arena a week ago, which ultimately caused their downfall, is determined to keep the scores a lot tighter this time. "Things didn't go according to plan last Friday and it left us with too much to do, and we must ensure that we don't let things slip for a second time," he said.

However, Summers who scored three points at King's Lynn in midweek,

added: "I don't think anyone expected us to be in contention for trophies because we struggled a bit earlier in the season when Thomas (Jonasson] left the team. And not having seven riders for a time did put a strain on us.

"Had we had a full team from the start we might well have held on to our league championship. Signing Kevin (Wolbert] has definitely helped us and having Kalle (Katajisto] back has also proved to be a masterstroke.

"But King's Lynn who won the title are a good side and they had to cope with injuries early on."

Summers says he set himself a few goals for this year and has attained some of them. "I wanted to improve my starts and I think they are getting better. I also wanted to find more consistency in my scoring, my average is between six and seven, but I think it could have been a little higher still, but my engine troubles prevented that. I've been at reserve and I would have liked to have made the main body of the team, but I cannot complain about the average I've got at reserve.

"The reserve berth is a key position and I get put into different races so you are not getting any easy rides, they are pretty hard outings occasionally."

Summers is uncertain over whether he'll be back in Monarchs colours in 2010.

He revealed: "I haven't had any contract talks as yet, but I might be staying here over the winter to try and get a job to sort out my bikes for next season. I'd also like to double-up in the Elite League next year if I can.

"I don't have any side in particular I want to join, but if it comes off it will give me more meetings.

"I wasn't very busy this season, I seemed to be doing nothing at times so if I can do the Elite League I'll be kept busy all the time." Summers feels Monarchs have nothing to fear from King's Lynn in the wake of their success on Tuesday. He said: "We all had a pretty good meeting and this has set us up for tonight, I think we are in pretty good shape and we'll be trying hard to produce another 20-point win."

King's Lynn have named No.1 Darcy Ward in their team, the Premier League's top scorer missed both play-off meetings after injuring his back at Redcar last week.

Ward has done nothing special in his previous visits to Armadale, but Monarchs boss John Campbell has not written him off.

He said: "Contrary to myth Darcy doesn't hate our track and has said he will conquer the circuit in due course, he is due a good match up here."

Monarchs' only doubt concerns Michal Rajkowski who injured his ankle on Tuesday and may not be fit to ride.