EDINBURGH Monarchs speedway ace Ryan Fisher scorched to a 17-point paid maximum against Newcastle Diamonds last night and then declared: "I'm having fun again."
The Californian star's six-ride unbeaten total at Armadale helped the capital outfit to a deserved 55-40 Premier League victory against a Diamonds outfit who were only really let down by their lack of a No.1 rider.
Fisher was sharp at the gate,
which relieved him of the need to become cavalier with his overtaking.
As a result, the Monarchs' ace never looked in any trouble all evening.
"I was making some good starts," said Fisher.
"And I went back to basics. I had fun again and enjoyed myself."
But Newcastle certainly were not the pushovers they were on their earlier Premier Trophy visit and it took the home side until the second half of the meeting before they finally crushed the Diamonds' fighting spirit.
Newcastle skipper Jason King toiled in the dusty conditions and his disappointing three-point return was a self-inflicted blow that the Diamonds could have done without.
The Brough Park side booked in former Monarch William Lawson as a guest for Steve Boxall and, after a lacklustre third place in the opening heat, Lawson won his next two rides in fine style.
However his last place behind behind Fisher and Matthew Wethers in Heat 13 saw the Monarchs grab a 5-1 which they probably didn't think was on.
But it wasn't all plain sailing for Monarchs, who were taken aback when Kenni Larsen, on a double points tactical ride, and partner Adam McKinna pinched an astonishing 8-1 advantage against Andrew Tully and Michal Rajkowski in Heat 9.
Tully said afterwards: "I just couldn't get out of the start and Adam and Kenni team rode very well together."
Tully still managed to pick up ten points and his best win came in his opening ride in heat three when he squeezed through the eye of a needle on the first bend to burst past King.
However, Rajkowski, who switched bikes during the meeting, couldn't get going until he pulled a rabbit out of the hat by defeating King and McKinna for his only victory in Heat 12.
Wethers and Aaron Summers also posted double-figure returns to provide solid backing for Fisher.
But reserve Sean Stoddart, who was looking for a big score against his old Newcastle team-mates, picked up just three points and was replaced by Summers in what was due to be his fourth outing.
Stoddart said: "You always want to do well against everyone
"And I felt I could have had a few more points but I needed that extra ride."
Monarchs used rider replacement for Swede Thomas Jonasson, who quit Monarchs this week, and gained eight points from the facility
Promoter John Campbell is believed to be on the trail of a Czech rider to replace Jonasson, hopefully in time for Friday's vital KO Cup quarter final first leg tie against Workington Comets – the team who elbowed Monarchs out of the competition last season.
Monarchs: Fisher 17, Wethers 11, Tully 10, Summers 10, Rajkowski 4, Stoddart 3.
Newcastle: Larsen 11, Sneddon 10, Lawson 7, McKinna 4, Branney 3, King 3, Leverington 2.
