Speedway: Tully in the swim for new Monarchs season

Published on Saturday 20 February 2010 10:16

ANDREW TULLY says he is in top gear for the new speedway season which begins at Armadale next month.

The Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs star suffered two serious crashes in 2009 and without question this hampered his scoring exploits.

The youngster broke his pelvis when Monarchs were pushing for silverware and despite returning to the saddle for the final weeks of the campaign, Tully struggled for fitness on occasions.

But today he revealed he has been working throughout the winter to ensure he is in perfect shape when the tapes rise in a few weeks.

He said: "I have been doing a lot of swimming which is something I don't normally do.

"But I'm just trying to make sure I haven't got any injury problems.

"I still get general aches and pains even from the leg I broke four or five years ago.

"After my first injury last year, I came back for a week or two and I felt okay, but then it all went wrong from then on.

"That's one of the reasons I've been swimming to keep everything moving.

"Everything seems to be fine and I can't wait for the season to start."

Tully, who was born on the Isle of Man, has been getting his equipment ready and revealed: "I've been getting bits and bobs for the bikes during the winter, including new exhausts. Sean Wilson, who does my engines, has been doing tests and quite a few tuners have also been testing my motors." Despite a brief spell doubling-up with Peterborough Panthers in 2009, Tully hasn't found an Elite League berth for this year. He added: "I didn't really expect to be doubling-up again this season after the nightmare end I had to last season. I haven't spoken to anyone about it; this year I will be concentrating on Edinburgh and, if I get off to a good start, an offer to double-up may come anyway.

"The Elite League this season appears to have gone for some low average doubling-up riders, people have their favourites and sometimes northern-based riders aren't in everyone's thoughts."

A member of Monarchs' championship-winning squad of 2008, Tully believes the 2010 team will again be challenging for the top honours.

"I think the team looks good this year," he said.

"We have got Kalle Katajisto back and the way he was going at the end of last season he could double his average.

"I think the team looks pretty good and I am quite excited about it, had we been able to get Derek Sneddon back this would have been a bonus but, unfortunately, that hasn't been possible.

"I'm looking to increase my own average if I can steer clear of injuries.

"At the start of last season I did better at home and struggled away from home.

"I had quite a few exclusions due to being over keen in some races but at the end of the year I felt I scored better on the road, but I don't think that was a bad thing.

"In my Conference League days I concentrated on getting my away average up and that's what I tried to do with Edinburgh last season.

"If I can get my home average to rise then my overall figure will go up."

Monarch kick off their new season with the restaging of the 2009 Scottish Open Championship on 19 March.