Speedway: Racer William Lawson back in the saddle for Edinburgh Monarchs

The speedway star rejoined Edinburgh Monarchs in midweek and makes his "debut" against King's Lynn Stars in tonight's KO Cup quarter- final second leg tie at Armadale. Monarchs are defending a huge lead of 22 points following their stunning 56-34 first leg triumph in Norfolk last month.

Lawson's return to the Premier League is a bitter pill for him to swallow. The Elite League was his dream but, after relations were soured at Belle Vue, Lawson says he was left with no option but to quit the famous Manchester outfit.

He told the Evening News: "It wasn't the best deal in the world at Belle Vue, but I could have made it work.

"But I encountered problems and brought them to their attention as early as May and I agreed to work with them until June to give them time to find a new reserve, which they didn't do. So they backed me into a corner and I left."

Lawson revealed a lack of outings and being dropped from heat 14 on a whim, lay at the root of his frustration.

He went on: "I was getting the odd extra ride but I was starting off the gate four position.

"They then started to take me out of heat 14 to give someone else an easy ride.

"But, even though they did that, it didn't yield them one extra point. They gained no advantage. I dug my heels in and argued that I was too good a rider to be dropped out of the race."

The 23-year-old Auchterarder racer then injured his foot but, when he returned to action, he found little had changed.

"I told them I was finished and they were wasting my time," he added.

Lawson has no regrets about dipping his toe into the top flight but added: "It was the right idea but the wrong club and I would like to return to the Elite League in 2011.

"The fact Belle Vue took me out of heat 14 put me on the back foot. I joined them because I thought they had a team capable of winning the league this year.

"I went down there to go forwards but they sent me backwards."

Lawson remains an attractive proposition due to his points average and revealed just how lucky Monarchs were to clinch his signature.

"I had approaches from another Elite League side this week, a team that I should have joined from the start.

"And, if Monarchs had been an hour later with their offer, I would have been down south with that club."

Monarchs dropped Lawson from their 2009 line-up but he snubbed the opportunity to return full time for this season.

"I didn't feel it was the right time to go back so I became a free agent.

"Some Monarchs fans weren't that keen on the idea, that was the message I was getting.

"But everybody seems to be happy that I'm back with Monarchs now. My only concern is my fitness, because I haven't raced that much since I left Belle Vue."

Some people have accused Monarchs of trying to buy the league title by signing Lawson, who fits in at reserve to partner Arlo Bugeja. And, without doubt, if Lawson starts to ignite from the tail-end Monarchs' bid for a third championship crown will be greatly enhanced as they enter the crucial run-in with only Newcastle Diamonds capable of denying them.

And Lawson added: "I'm taking nothing for granted because you have got to win your races.

"But, although I'm starting off at reserve, I'm targeting the heat 15 top scorers' race and I would like to see my average up to the nine or ten-point mark before the end of the season."

Lawson added: "Joining a team like Monarchs who have a winning mentality will be good for me, they are not a team that is getting patched up every week."

Lawson's worth to Monarchs would increase considerably if he helps them win this weekend at Berwick and Newcastle - two of his former teams.

"It was the right idea but the wrong club and I would like to return to the Elite League"

william lawson