EDINBURGH MONARCHS speedway promoter John Campbell drove away from Somerset's Oak Tree Arena on Wednesday and no-one would have been in the least surprised if they'd heard his car purring as he journeyed back north.
Monarchs had been fully expected to lose heavily to the current Premier League leaders in their crunch top of the table battle.
Yet, the Capital side scared the living daylights out of the Rebels going down narrowly 48-44. A result which provided
Monarchs with more satisfaction than their hosts.
Somerset visit Armadale tonight and Berwick Bandits tomorrow. Should they lose both fixtures and Monarchs triumph at Stoke Potters, the pendulum in the race for this year's championship crown, will swing Monarchs' way.
Campbell, pictured below, who is bidding to steer Monarchs to a second league title in five years, thinks the Rebels are beginning to feel the heat.
"Any hope Somerset had of a confidence booster by hammering us has disappeared," he said. "And I think we'll win comfortably this evening."
Campbell already believes Monarchs have the edge over Somerset, who are outright leaders again following their midweek triumph.
"I've never thought the pendulum has been any other way than Edinburgh's. But much of what happens between now and the end of the season will come down to how luck is playing at the time.
"Perhaps luck is not playing in Somerset's favour at Berwick as they will be without Stephan Katt at reserve.
"Katt is absent due to an another commitment and Somerset are only permitted a Conference League rider (Adam McKinna] to replace him. This makes it easier for Berwick and better for us. But perhaps luck is not going to play in our favour when we go back to Redcar next month.
"I thought we were going to win there when the meeting was abandoned. Redcar now are absolutely at full strength and it will be a difficult fixture for us.
"I think Somerset have a tougher run-in than ourselves. They have to win one more away fixture than us to have a chance.
"If we win two of our remaining away matches we will be very difficult to catch – providing we don't lose at home."
Monarchs, critically, will track their own seven riders for their upcoming string of vital clashes when William Lawson returns from injury in time for next Friday's home derby against Glasgow Tigers.
The Auchterarder ace, who broke a collarbone two months ago, will have a try out in the second half this evening.
Said Campbell: "We have got away with William's absence so far. Although he is a maximum man at Armadale, that hasn't troubled us either. But it's critical William rides for us when we go back to Glasgow and it's also critical he rides for us at Newcastle. Both are winnable matches for sure.
"It has been difficult to pick guests for William and to get the right replacement. It was a real struggle, for instance, to find someone for our trip to Workington recently.
"At the end of the day, our choice, Kyle Legault, tried hard but didn't win any races. William has been out for eight weeks but I don't expect him to have any real problems in the second half tonight."
Mark Lemon deputises for Lawson against Somerset and former Monarch Magnus Karlsson steps in for the trip to Stoke Potters tomorrow night.
This is a must-win match for Monarchs.
Campbell says if his side lose then they may not win the league.
"It is certainly more difficult to win at Stoke than it was before. If we are not good enough we may not win the league."
The full article contains 618 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
