Speedway: One to forget, now let's claim the title

Published on Tuesday 24 August 2010 11:39

BULLISH Edinburgh Monarchs promoter John Campbell has brushed aside his side's 51-42 Premier League defeat at Workington Comets as "a nothing evening".

And he added: "With Newcastle losing at Berwick, it still takes us a step closer to claiming the league title."

Monarchs head to Somerset Rebels tonight for one of four away meetings they have remaining and victory would put them within touching distance of their third championship in the space of eight years.

However, storm clouds are gathering over reserve ace William Lawson, whose two points from six rides against the Comets provoked sharp comments among supporters and have sparked calls for him to be replaced.

Despite his Elite League experience, Lawson seems incapable of finding an engine which is competitive at Premier League level and fears are growing he could cost Monarchs dearly in the play-offs and their KO Cup semi- final matches against, ironically, Workington.

However, Campbell said: "Obviously, we were looking for better things from him at Workington but it wasn't for want of trying.

"William tried really hard but it didn't happen for him on the night.

"He worked on his bike throughout the meeting to get it going quicker. He was in scoring positions but lost them on the last corner on two occasions.

"I'm sure on another night we'd go back to Workington and beat them. The match was not the greatest spectacle in the world and one or two things went against us. It's not the end of the world but it's a shame we didn't take at least a point from the meeting."

Monarchs could certainly do with some double-figure returns from Kalle Katajisto, who is not the star he was when he rode at reserve, but Campbell said: "There is no problem, Kalle is just as he has been all season. If it works for him it's fine, if it doesn't, he just shrugs his shoulders and continues on to the next match.

"Although he only scored six, that was his first visit to Workington. He missed the start in heat three and all was lost, but he still won two important races later on."

Katajisto added: "It was all about gating, if you missed the start you lost the race, but I was happy with my two heat wins on a track I hadn't been to before."

With Monarchs closing in on the title, Campbell said: "It's difficult to get too excited about any particular away match because we aim to win them all.

"And, with each Newcastle match that passes, our situation becomes easier.

"We can reach 60 points simply by winning our final two home meetings by more than six. Newcastle can only get 61 in total now, it's just a question of when and where we will claim the title.

"However it is likely we will clinch the league somewhere other than Armadale and that will be disappointing for a lot of our supporters."