Speedway: Monarchs fans urged to follow team to Stoke

Published on Thursday 2 September 2010 11:53

Edinburgh Monarchs are just a point away from clinching the Premier League speedway championship and today co-promoter John Campbell urged as many of the Capital side's fans as possible to make the trip to Stoke Potters tomorrow night to witness their expected coronation.

Following their win at King's Lynn Stars in midweek Monarchs require just a point against the Potters to kill off nearest challengers Newcastle Diamonds. And Campbell said: "I'm very confident we will do well at Stoke."

Yet on the face of it Stoke would appear to be no pushovers having lost just twice at home to Sheffield and Newcastle this season. They have been ravaged by injuries and could have easily tracked two teams given the number of riders they have used. And certainly with Lubos Tomicek and Ricky Wells at reserve the Potters could have the edge against Monarchs tail-enders William Lawson and Ashley Morris.

However, Campbell is resolute in his belief and said: "Obviously it would be nice to win the title at Armadale but we will not be holding back at Stoke, we are going there to win and clinch the title.

"And I would advise everybody to get down to Stoke because that is where we intend to win it. Stoke is a track we do well at because it's a circuit we ride well, and the whole team are keen that we finish off the job there."

The Potters, who were hammered at Rye House Rockets on Monday, have recently signed Swede Jeremia Thelaus to replace Dane Claus Vissing who has been banned by his National Federation for the rest of the season.

Potters boss Malcolm Vasey said: "I had seen Jeremia a couple of times when he rode at Redcar and kept my eye on him. He was keen to join us and has bags of potential."

Any suggestion that Monarchs could get tripped up at Stoke are calmly dismissed by Campbell.

"I'm absolutely in no doubt we will win the title against them unless of course we were to be hit by injuries early in the match. This Monarchs team is dominant in the league and no matter what Stoke have done during the season, we have the riders to win the match."

Monarchs had to wait almost 60 years before winning their first league title in 2003 and now they are on the verge of claiming their third championship in eight years following their second triumph in 2008.

Campbell added: "We have done very well with the riders we have selected and we have managed to put together a good team on most occasions in recent years. And this year we have also managed to get a fantastic team spirit going within the squad. It more than matches anything we had in 2008.

"Our captain Matthew Wethers has also come to the fore this season and is an immense character.

"Matthew did not have a good night at King's Lynn but he was still in the pits encouraging everybody else to do their best.

"Team spirit instills confidence and confidence wins you league titles."

If Monarchs do the business at Stoke, their trip to Glasgow Tigers on Sunday will ensure a carnival atmosphere prevails.

Meanwhile, Monarchs entertain Berwick Bandits at Armadale tonight in the first leg of their Autumn Trophy battle.

The Bandits are just one of three sides to get the better of Monarchs in the league.

With recent wins at Glasgow and Workington the in-form Bandits are in with shout of making the end of season play-offs.

Campbell is looking for a big turnout this evening in order that fans can give Monarchs a big send-off ahead of their potentially-momentous trip to the Potteries.