Speedway: New-look Monarchs mean business, make no mistake

Published on Friday 26 March 2010 09:38

FOR YEARS, Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs didn't dine at Premier League speedway's top table. But, with two league championships in the last decade, they have ensured it has been their rivals who have been forced to live off crumbs.

More significantly Monarchs now have a winning mentality and it's this attribute which convinces co-promoter John Campbell that Monarchs can lift the title for a third time this season.

Campbell has already stated that Monarchs will win the league and he has no regrets about his proclamation, even though he knows his words could come back to haunt him.

He said: "We have strength from one to seven and I think we have got perhaps four riders who will be among the top scorers in the league this year.

"I expect Ryan Fisher and Kevin Wolbert to be right up there, I also believe Andrew Tully will improve and our captain Matthew Wethers will have a better season than last. And that's what's giving me the idea that we are going to do very well.

"There is no doubt now that everything about the club centres on winning. We had gone forever without winning anything and finishing second, third or fourth was considered a fantastic achievement.

"That's now not the case, we want to win the championship again, and I believe we have a team capable of doing that."

The only significant change Monarchs have made from the squad which finished second behind King's Lynn in 2009 is their first Hungarian signing, Jozsef Tabaka.

But Monarchs' fortunes could well hinge on the ability of Tully to make a big breakthrough this term, after injuries curtailed his efforts last season.

"I'm sure it's in Andrew's mind that this is the year when things could go very well for him," said Campbell. "He has got to avoid injuries, of course, and that's the thing which has held him back.

"I think that, after his early-season injury last year, he wasn't 100 per cent, although he would never admit to that."

Tully himself said: "After my first injury I came back for a week or two and everything seemed fine but it all went wrong from then on." The Isle of Man-born star, who also broke his pelvis in 2009, added: "I did a lot of swimming during the winter to help my fitness and I feel I can increase my average, I think our team looks pretty good and I'm pretty excited about it."

It's no secret that Monarchs wanted William Lawson to return to the ranks after he was left out in 2009. But he declined, signing for Elite League Belle Vue Aces instead. However, Campbell insists the decision to opt for Tabaka in a Plan B move is totally justified.

Said Campbell: "I think Jozsef will do well, I'm not wishing to put any pressure on him at the start because it's a completely different world he's in now.

"He will be racing far more frequently than he's ever done before, he doesn't speak much English and neither does his mechanic, so it will take time for him to settle in but the important time is towards the end of the season, not now."

Monarchs could have been chasing a hat trick of league wins this year but Thomas Jonasson's decision to quit the UK last season after the death of his father, scuppered Monarchs' bid to successfully defend the crown they captured in 2008 – five years after their historic first title in 2003.

"Thomas derailed us, no doubt about that," added Campbell, "and he did it at a critical point.

"He was highly capable of becoming our top rider and, in the weeks we struggled without him, we were ripped apart."

Campbell feels Monarchs should fear no one on their travels and dismissed some predictions that Birmingham Brummies will be the biggest threat.

He said: "If they are league challengers I'd say they have done really well. Birmingham have a spearhead of two guys, Steve Johnston and Jason Lyons, who are in their late 30s.

"Although they also have some good youngsters in their team, I feel to have two riders who are nearing the end of their careers, will ultimately stop them."

Monarchs face Glasgow Tigers in their first competitive match of the season tonight – the first leg of the Spring Trophy.

The Tigers got their campaign off to an encouraging start when they defeated top flight side Coventry Bees in a challenge fixture at Ashfield last weekend.

However their top pair James Grieves and Travis McGowan repeated their poor displays at the Scottish Open two days earlier.

Campbell said: "Glasgow are relying on everybody in their team being better than they were before and the evidence isn't necessarily there to suggest that is going to happen.

"They are also counting on Mitchell Davey and Robert Ksiezak to increase their averages significantly and, although Travis didn't go that well at the Scottish Open, I still expect him to be a dominant force in the Premier League this year."