Title win would vindicate star who turned his back on top flight

RYAN FISHER doesn't like losing on the speedway track and isn't averse to kicking his toolbox over the pits if an opponent gets the better of him.

So 12 months ago, when Elite League giants Belle Vue Aces released the Californian from their squad after he scored just 43 points in 19 appearances, Fisher was ready to quit the sport.

But then Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs came calling to rescue his ailing career.

Fisher swallowed a whole mouthful of pride to drop down into the Premier League and sign for the Capital squad and now he is potentially just hours away from securing his first ever championship winner's medal.

If Somerset Rebels fail to win at the Isle of Wight tonight, Monarchs will be crowned league champions for the second time in six years.

This would vindicate Fisher's decision to turn his back on the top flight.

Yet Fisher, whose wife Daelyn is expecting their second child – a boy – in December, is restless and makes no secret of his desire to make a name for himself on the world stage.

He can only do that by returning to the Elite League, although he insisted: "If Edinburgh offered me a contract today I'd sign it in a flash."

Clearly Fisher is caught in a personal dilemma. He said: "It will be awesome if Edinburgh win the league but I don't know what I'll be doing next season.

"I'm trying to weigh things up, I don't know what I want to do. I'll definitely be riding in the UK again in 2009 but I don't know if I want to step back up to the Elite League or have another season in the Premier League. Everything is 50-50 at the moment."

Fisher freely admits he hit the skids last year and leaving Belle Vue did nothing for his self-esteem.

He said: "Last year I was probably at my lowest ebb in my career. I didn't know what was happening. It was terrible. All I knew was that the equipment I had for the Elite League simply wasn't good enough and that's why I struggled. I also wasn't fit.

"I thought things would get better. Yet, the more I tried, and I was trying too hard on occasions, I would fall off. My bikes didn't have the speed which you require to make any sort of mark in the Elite League."

The turnaround in Fisher's fortunes since his arrival at Armadale in March has been dramatic.

Despite his reluctance to show restraint on occasions costing him a few points, Fisher has been not so much a breath of fresh air, more a whirlwind for Monarchs this term.

He said: "The gamble to ride in the Premier League has totally paid off for me. In this division, you can actually race and come from the back.

"More importantly you can pass. In the Elite League if you are at the back after the tapes rise, you're pretty much done.

"Personally I have made strides this year. My gating is better and now I'm even with a lot of opponents going into the first corner. And round Armadale in particular this is crucial."

But he added: "I still think I'm an Elite League rider. I want to be the best rider I can be. I also want to compete in the Grand Prix. That is my goal.

"I also want to race in Poland and Sweden next season if I can manage it. To do this, it might be better for me to remain in the Premier League."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Fisher has no regrets about linking up with Monarchs, who are still on course for a trophy treble.

"Monarchs are the best team and have the best team spirit in the league," said Fisher. "Alex Harkess and John Campbell are the best promoters I've ever dealt with. They are more like family and they care about what you say. When you screw up they know how you feel and want to help. If you ride badly they don't say 'we'll sign someone else'."

So will Fisher pull on the blue and gold race jacket again come the spring? Intriguingly, in view of his comments about what he wants to do in 2009, he said: "I've got to wait and see if Edinburgh make me an offer. If they gave me a contract today I'd definitely want to sign it."

Meanwhile, Fisher and his teammates will get together in the city this evening to await the outcome on the Isle of Wight.

"We are just hoping Isle of Wight will do us the favour we need," added Fisher. "It's going to be a bit nervy waiting on the result. But, if things don't go our way, then we will simply have to win at Glasgow next month to clinch the title, although none of us hopes it comes to that."

Boss John Campbell said he would be surprised if the Isle of Wight were to lose their unbeaten home record at this stage of the season, but added: "We have been the best team in the league all season and it will be disappointing if we don't win it. I still believe if we have to go to Glasgow to clinch it we'll do it."