Edinburgh Monarchs No.1 Ricky Wells desperate to avoid repeat of play-off pain

Ricky Wells wants improvement from the Monarchs in 2019. Pic: Ron MacNeill

The American is still hurting from missing out on the Championship play-offs last year for the first time since they were introduced and is determined to avoid a repeat this time around.

Wells, who will lead a new-look Monarchs squad for 2019, stressed: “You don’t really know until you begin racing how things will work out, but there is definite room for  improvement.

“It was a pretty big blow when we missed out last season but you cannot blame any single person. We had some pretty bad luck towards the end of the year, especially our home loss to Berwick in the wet.

“It was a real low for us and towards the end of the campaign everyone was just scratching their heads. I hope it doesn’t happen again. We start afresh again and hopefully we can improve upon on our performances and put last season behind us and move on.”

Justin Sedgmen and Cameron Heeps are the two main planks on which Monarchs will build their title challenge and Wells signified both Aussies have plenty to prove in the weeks ahead.

He said: “Justin has lots of experience and rode for Monarchs before but has had a few years off. It’s hard not to have ridden in a while.

“He’s got to try and come back and without doubt has a task on his hands. But, if he wasn’t keen to do it, he would not be making the effort to ride for Edinburgh again.

“Cameron, by his own standards, had a shocking year last season and I don’t think he will be mad at me for saying that.

“I think out of the whole team Cameron is definitely the one to watch. He’s got loads of potential and, if he has put the hard work in during the winter getting prepared, he will be okay.”

Wells added: “It’s also going to be a big year for Josh Pickering and he could be pushing for a heat leader role if he goes well. He was disappointed at not doing better in the Aussie Championships in January and needs to gate a bit better around Armadale.

“Providing he can make some telling passes, he, too, should be fine.”

Wells, whose Monarchs schedule will begin with the Spring Spectacular at Armadale on Friday, April 12, admits 2019 is going to be a busy year for him personally and said: “I’m pretty much organised for the new season – just a few things need sorting out.”

Wells, inset, is doubling-up this year with Premiership side Belle Vue Aces and is delighted to have joined probably the most famous club side in British speedway.

He enthused: “Definitely looking forward to riding for them. They have a cool track. I’m also riding in Poland and Sweden too.

“At the moment, I have a total of 85 meetings pencilled in. And, if Belle Vue and Edinburgh get through their various cup competitions, it could add up to around 100 meetings!

“It will be a hectic season for me and I have got two mechanics, one based in Poland and another one in the UK. I need to have a good year.

“I have always liked keeping busy. Sometimes in the past I had too few meetings and had too much time to think.

“Doubling-up in past seasons is tough and I’m not going to be doing it forever, infact this could my last season. It’s not that easy and I don’t think people appreciate how difficult it actually is.

“The travelling is the hardest thing and I’ll have a 400-mile round trip for Monarchs matches every Friday. That takes a huge toll on you, but I have good people around me and this will take a lot of the strain off me and make life a bit easier and hopefully I can get some good results in the process.

“My bikes are ready to go and I’m really looking forward to the start of the new season.”

• Monarchs’ 2019 season launch takes place at Napier University on Friday, April 5 at 7.30pm. More details can be found at www.edinburgh monarchs.co.uk