Monarchs boss urges Katajisto to refocus

Katajisto, who has already missed matches for Monarchs, is riding in a World Under-21 round in Sweden tomorrow night and is also due to compete in a World Team Cup event next weekend, although he insists he will turn out for Monarchs instead.

Campbell doesn't want to stop Katajisto turning out for Finland, but said: "I don't think it helps when we have a run of home matches and Kalle isn't here. He tells me he'll be at Armadale next week but Finland could order him to ride for them. And, if he qualifies from this weekend's Under-21 event, he could be missing for us again in June."

Having struggled to reproduce his sparkling form of 2010, Katajisto was in danger of being shown the exit door not so long ago, but Campbell doesn't think his young star has suddenly turned into a bad rider overnight. He said: "I don't think his confidence has departed simply because he is now in the main body of the team, things have conspired against him and he may have influenced some of that himself.

"But because he can be brilliant one minute and nowhere the next, this plays on his mind. He has the ability but doesn't have everything set up properly to perform to his best.

"The biggest problem with Kalle is you never know what he is going to do despite the fact he is getting lots of help. He knows he needs to get his confidence back and that's in his head at the moment."

Katajisto isn't the only Monarch who is underperforming, with Campbell unnerved by the patchy scoring he is witnessing from his side. He said: "Matthew Wethers has been consistent but not necessarily away from home and Craig Cook has been consistent everywhere, but the other two, Kevin Wolbert and Andrew Tully, have been super inconsistent all over the place and undoubtedly that's where we have suffered so far this season."

Monarchs also have problems at the tail-end with the experienced Lee Dicken still striving to make his mark, although teammate Kyle Howarth is one man riding like a dream.

They jettisoned Jay Herne and Ashley Morris earlier in the season but many fans felt the latter was harshly treated. Campbell has no regrets, though.

He said: "Ashley wasn't scoring any points and had a mental block about his gating. I still have high hopes that Lee will do what we signed him for - to score three or four points home and away. He is trying very hard to make things happen and I know he is disappointed when he doesn't score."

The Monarchs gaffer also scotched rumours that Hungarian Joszef Tabaka was in line for a shock comeback.

"We couldn't fit Joszef in anyway," said Campbell, "and nor did we have an agreement with him to join the team in the summer. Every time we employ a reserve on loan it costs us money. We cannot go on tossing them away after a few matches because it's a fairly major expense."

Monarchs are seeking a double over Newport having won at Queensway Meadows a few weeks ago, but the Wasps have strengthened up over the last seven days by signing Aussie duo Jason Doyle and Justin Sedgman, both with experience in the Elite League. Campbell acknowledges Newport are now a stronger outfit.

"They're certainly a better team now," he said.

"Things have conspired against Kalle and he knows he needs to get his confidence back"

JOHN CAMPBELL