Speedway: McDade has the Cal-ibre to succeed

The 23-year-old Scot, who has ridden a handful of matches for Monarchs already this season, makes his permanent debut against bottom-of-the-table Redcar Bears at Armadale tonight.

McDade is considered a rising star and has won a speedway scholarship to compete in Australia this winter to further his career. He is delighted at going full-time with Monarchs, but will also continue to turn out for King's Lynn Stars in the National League following an agreement between the two clubs.

McDade doesn't lack confidence and insists he hasn't accepted the second reserve berth simply to make up the numbers.

He said: "At the moment I need to be seeking as many rides as possible. I picked up the odd match here and there for Monarchs earlier in the year but the fact I'm now in the team on a full-time basis is good for me.

"Hopefully I'll get a couple of meetings to settle in and then I can start scoring big points for the rest of the season."

With Dilger sometimes failing to score anything, any points McDade brings in will be considered a bonus.

"I've been made aware that Max hadn't been scoring particularly well recently," said McDade. "But the rest of the team are doing well.

McDade says he gets on well with all the Monarchs squad but has yet to meet Tobias Busch, who joined the Capital team two weeks following the departure of Joszef Tabaka. "I nearly ended up being a mechanic for Ryan," added McDade, "and I've also ridden with Matthew (Wethers and Andrew (Tully) at different points in my career. I think I'll fit in."

McDade, whose father Allan is Monarchs' design and marketing chief, only returned to the sport this season after a two-year lay off. He said: "I picked up a back injury in 2007 and hadn't fully recovered from it and, by the time 2008 had come around, I hadn't managed to secure a team berth with anyone.

"I had also run out of money, I was out of pocket quite substantially and couldn't continue to carry on at that time."

McDade realises 2010 is a year which will signpost what direction he takes in the sport and, to that end, he purchased an engine from former Monarchs No.1 William Lawson to make him a competitive performer.

McDade said: "I only had one bike to begin with but the engine I had was okay on slick surfaces but not so good on grippier ones. So I bought another motor from William and, with him being an Elite League rider now, I was expecting a good standard of engine and luckily it is."

Monarchs can return to the top of the table if they defeat Redcar and McDade relishes the chance of joining a team who are on a roll after a stuttering start to the season.

On the prospect of partnering high scoring Finn Kalle Katajisto at the tail-end, McDade said: "If I can keep up with Kalle I'll be delighted."

Redcar arrive with new signings James Grieves and Charles Wright on board and are desperate for better luck after a dismal first half to the season.