EDINBURGH Scotwaste Monarchs co-promoter John Campbell today said the "search is on" to find a replacement for Swede Thomas Jonasson, who left the Capital club this week after pulling the plug on his UK speedway career.
Jonasson's decision to concentrate on riding in Sweden and Poland only, claiming he can no longer handle riding in three countries, has torn Monarchs' defence of their Premier League crown to shreds, given that Jonasson was a key component of this ye
ar's squad.
Former Isle of Wight ace Krzysztof Stojanowski had been touted as a possible candidate but Campbell, pictured below, has ruled out the Polish star, saying: "He won't be joining us, but I'm looking in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Scandinavia. We are looking at riders who are doing well in their own country. However, it is very difficult to judge the level some of these candidates are at. For instance, Newcastle who we race tonight, brought in Kenni Larsen, who nobody had heard of, and he is proving to be very good. I'm hoping we can find someone who can score heavily on away tracks for us.
"We have also looked at Robin Tornquist for a few years and Glasgow signed him recently but have already let him go. I can't believe he is as bad as Glasgow claim and I think they have been hasty in getting rid of him.
"It's riders of that level that can do a job for us. And had Glasgow not released him we might have had a go at him ourselves."
Jonasson's departure from Armadale was perhaps inevitable following his non appearance at Somerset last week. The rider missed two flights from Berlin, citing traffic jams as the reason. But this proved the final straw for Campbell, who had already grown tired of running after Jonasson like some hired flunkey.
Sensing that Monarchs might sack him, Jonasson and his advisors pre-empted such a scenario by announcing his withdrawal from the UK.
Campbell said: "Thomas is a big star in Sweden and wants to ride in his own country. He also gets so much money competing in Poland he cannot afford to give that up.
"We were always going to be the ones to fall by the wayside."
Asked if he felt let down by Jonaasson, Campbell replied: "I have certainly spent a lot of time on his behalf since he joined the club and it's a shame he couldn't carry it through as he should have done this season."
However, Jonasson's future in Poland faces uncertainty as, once he reaches the age of 21, the Poles are likely to discard him. Campbell added: "I think his situation there will change after this season. Previously he was the best under-21 rider in Poland but I can't see he'll get a job in the top league in Poland next year.
"Therefore, with the lure of Polish money not proving so great for him, he may fancy returning to this country again."
In a statement issued this week, Jonasson said he would like to ride for Monarchs in the future and Campbell, publicly at least, hasn't ruled out the possibility. He said: "When we sit down to make up a team for next season, Thomas' 7.32 average makes him an attraction and he cannot be ruled out.
"We have invested a lot of money in him and we are not completely going to throw it all away."
Privately, it is unlikely Campbell will forgive Jonasson for the Somerset episode.
Campbell is the longest-serving promoter in the Premier League and, regardless of circumstances, Jonasson joins a list of riders who have been ushered through the exit door after failing to display total commitment to the Monarchs cause.
Monarchs will use rider replacement against Newcastle Diamonds at Armadale tonight and, with skipper Matthew Wethers returning to form with an unbeaten six-ride paid maximum against Rye House last week, the squad will be optimistic of running up a big score against the Geordies who took three points against Somerset Rebels at Brough Park on Sunday.
Newcastle have booked former Monarch William Lawson as a guest for their absent No.1 rider Steve Boxall.
The full article contains 708 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
