HAVING hoisted themselves to joint top in speedway's Premier League, Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs are all too well aware that staying there will be no easy task.
With long-time leaders Somerset Rebels, King's Lynn Stars and Workington Comets all snapping at their heels and vital fixtures coming up for all four protagonists, it's certain the race for this year's championship crown will take a few more twists a
nd turns over the next two months. It's all about holding your nerve – especially at home. And Monarchs face a potentially tricky test against Redcar Bears at Armadale tonight.
The Bears posted two wins at the Lothian Arena in 2007 and while Monarchs have beaten their visitors home and away in the KO Cup this season, the Teesiders have been boosted by the return from injury of American ace Chris Kerr. Monarchs produced their most solid scoring display so far in toppling Birmingham Brummies 52-29 last week. The meeting was abruptly abandoned with two races left due to the wet track conditions.
The trigger for bringing things to a halt appeared to be Thomas Jonasson's tumble entering the third bend in heat 14. Yet conditions were far more conducive to racing than they were against Rye House which was a veritable mud bath.
The referee that evening rejected calls for the match to be called off after both sides agreed to give it a go – and there was a feeling among supporters that last Friday's official, Paul Carrington, should have taken a similar line.
Besides, Jonasson revealed that the slippery surface wasn't the reason for his fall. He said: "I simply lost control and didn't take the corner as I should have done. I would have come off even if it had been dry."
Jonasson enjoyed his best home match for Monarchs and was unbeaten after his first three rides. He looked very assured aboardan engine rented from former Monarchs legend Peter Carr.
His eight-point return did his confidence no harm whatsoever given the problems the young Swede has encountered trying to get to grips with the tight turns of Armadale which has foxed a good many riders over the seasons.
Said Jonasson: "I actually thought before the meeting that I would alter my racing style. I tried it in my first ride and almost crashed. But I was fine after that and I felt a lot more comfortable on my bike.
"I realised that the style I adopt for the big tracks in Poland and Sweden is no good for somewhere like Armadale." The measure of Monarchs' down-the-line scoring was underlined by the fact that no fewer than four of the squad registered eight point efforts.
And visiting teams, some of whom have strong top end line-up's, find this difficult to counter; although Rye House proved the exception to this rule when they took Monarchs to a last heat decider two weeks ago. Andrew Tully, who moved into the main body of the team from reserve earlier this month, felt a lot happier with his seven-point total against Birmingham. Tully, who seemed to have the spotlight permanently trained on him when he was ripping up more trees than a lumberjack from the No.6 berth, culminating in a fantastic 21-point maximum against the Isle of Wight, has been more subdued lately, but said: "It has nothing to do with the fact I'm now a second string. The rides are no more harder than they were at reserve. I was unwell a few weeks ago and I've also had some problems with my bikes.
"I just wish I could make some decent gates. It's so annoying that I can't. It is so difficult to fight your way from the back especially with the wet conditions we have had to endure over the last few meetings. You simply get filled in unless you can hit the first bend in front. But I was pleased to get seven against Birmingham. I felt a lot better with that performance."
Monarchs certainly won't take Redcar for granted – for one good reason: James Grieves, the former Monarchs ace, knows Armadale like the back of his hand, and is virtually guaranteed to run up a double-figure return.
With team-mates Gary Havelock, Josh Auty, Ty Proctor, and Kerr, all capable of causing damage, Redcar boast a very effective top five and the Capital outfit will need to be on their toes to maintain their unbeaten home record.
Workington's Carl Stonehewer makes his third guest appearance for the injured Willam Lawson who is expected to be back in Monarchs colours next month.
Monarchs also face a tough trip to Workington's Derwent Park tomorrow night when they compete in the Premier League Fours tournament, an event they have won twice in the past.
Monarchs' quartet – Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Tully, and Jonasson – have been drawn in a tough group against Workington, Sheffield and Somerset and will do well to reach the semi-finals.
The full article contains 835 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
