Motorsport: Monarchs relishing Somerset challenge

Jul 16 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE Armadale-based Scotwaste Monarchs had a great last weekend and can now look forward to this weekend’s fixtures against Somerset Rebels with confidence.

The Rebels are coming to West Lothian to challenge the Monarchs home dominance tomorrow (Friday) with a 7.30pm start.

The visitors were the team to chase Monarchs all the way during their thrilling and successful quest for the league title last season.

This year their star performer has been the charismatic Australian Steve Johnston who has stepped down from a successful Elite League career.

The legendary Johno has only been once at Armadale before, and won Peter Carr’s Motor Show 2 in 2003. He will be backed up by Swede Emil Kramer and Aussie Corey Gathercole.

The Monarchs will have a full seven-man lineup for a change with the return of Thomas H Jonasson who rejoined the side for two successful away fixtures last weekend.

Title favourites King’s Lynn were the visitors to Armadale last Friday and they emerged with more credit from the match even though Monarchs won by 46-45.

They led all the way but the Norfolk side were unlucky to lose two riders to injury, one of these being their great young prospect Darcy Ward who broke his ankle in his second ride.

Monarchs just scraped home but they did much better down south at the weekend.

On Saturday they went to Scunthorpe in the first leg of the Premier Trophy semi-final, and recorded an excellent 46-44 win to give them the upper hand for the return next week.

Ryan Fisher performed brilliantly and the American was in great form again at Newport in Sunday’s Premier League match, but Bathgate’s Andrew Tully was even better, scoring 13 and breaking the track record for the Welsh circuit in the process.

Monarchs fought back from six points down early on to win 47-43.

With Jonasson back Monarchs will be fielding a seven-man team on Friday and also at Stoke on the following evening.

Team for Friday: Scotwaste Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Michal Rajkowski, Thomas H Jonasson, Matthew Wethers (captain), Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.