EVERY speedway team needs a rider like Matthew Wethers.
The Edinburgh Monarchs star is the embodiment of the hard-grafting individual who is content to let others bask in the spotlight.
Yet Wethers, who will score eight or nine points all day long, deserves to be lauded from the rooftops for the profe
ssionalism-and stellar scores he produced for the Capital squad in 2007 when the top end of the team fell apart like a rusty old banger.
The 22-year-old South Australian ace is already showing signs this season that he will continue to be a vital part of Monarchs' backbone. Yet in his first couple of meetings at Armadale this year he was in subdued mood, almost invisible.
But double-figure returns against Glasgow Tigers and at Workington Comets, quickly allayed fleeting thoughts that he was perhaps on the slide. Wethers said: "The Edinburgh track, despite all the rain, has been quite slick and this hasn't really suited me. But the away tracks have been good and I feel I've been doing all right. I think it was more dry on the night we raced Glasgow and I just felt more comfortable on the bike and I was pleased to get ten points against them.
"I was also quite happy to score the same at Workington the following evening. I rode well apart from one race which I messed up a little. But again the weather played a part.
"We had rain, hail, and snow and it was difficult to pass anybody. It was disappointing that Workington beat us 48-45. That was a decent score to get down there and we were all proud of our effort."
Wethers added: "It is always difficult to get the bike set-up spot on when the weather is bad. Passing opportunities are a lot harder in the wet. When you get close to a rider in front you get filled in and you cannot see. You then lose ground, it's very frustrating.
"But I'm happy with the way my bikes are going. My gating has been reasonably good. If you can get into that first turn in front, especially if conditions are heavy, it is such a big bonus."
Wethers is working solo this season, as his dad Brian, a friendly and familiar face in the Armadale pits over the last couple of seasons, is tending to his business in Australia.
"It's not difficult because he isn't here," said Wethers. "Except last week when we had meetings two days running and you only had one day to wash and prepare the bike. I could have done with his assistance. I spoke to him at the weekend and he has decided to remain at home this year."
Monarchs' fixture against Newcastle Diamonds was rained off on Friday and with the abandonment of their clash at Redcar Bears the previous evening after nine races, the focus is now trained on King's Lynn on Wednesday which will hopefully see Monarchs complete their first league match of 2008.
Having ridden for King's Lynn in 2005, Wethers knows better than most just how formidable the Norfolk men will be. But Birmingham provided a beacon of hope to all prospective visiting teams when they ended King's Lynn's run of 98 consecutive wins at home with an incredible 55-39 Premier Trophy triumph on Friday.
Said Wethers: "No-one would have predicted that outcome." Yet King's Lynn is always a tough ask, it's totally different to any other circuit in the Premier League. When I raced for them they were a good club to ride for, a very professional outfit."
Wethers, however, has an ally in his hunt for points against King's Lynn – team-mate Aaron Summers scored 17 there last week racing for Redcar Cubs in the Conference League.
"It was a superb effort by Aaron," said Wethers. "And it's good for us that he has now seen and ridden the track. But I think King's Lynn prepare their track differently for Conference League matches compared to Premier League meetings. But it should still benefit Aaron, and hopefully the rest of us."
With a strong team spirit already engendered, Wethers feels Monarchs are in a strong position to chase silverware this year.
"Everybody is getting points here and there," he said, "and having Thomas (Jonasson] back is great. He was really going for it at Redcar and looked really impressive. It was fantastic to see him get going again."
The averages change a week after Monarchs King's Lynn visit and it's likely Wethers will remain in his No.5 berth. Monarchs director Mike Hunter said: "If Derek Sneddon scored nothing on Wednesday and Matthew got ten, things may change, but this is unlikely. Matthew is a good rider to have at No.5."
The full article contains 807 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
