EDINBURGH Scotwaste Monarchs are hoping to turn up the heat in the race for the Premier League speedway championship this weekend.
Monarchs are expected to defeat Stoke Potters at Armadale tonight, and, if they win tomorrow's return clash at Loomer Road, they will assume joint leadership of the table with pacesetters Somerset Rebels, who should also triumph when they face Sheffi
eld Tigers at the Oak Tree Arena this evening.
Monarchs heat leader William Lawson thinks the title chase is a two-horse race between the capital outfit and Somerset. And, with both sides unlikely to drop points at home, the destiny of the crown will be decided on who can win their vital matches on the road.
Lawson, who guested for Swedish team Vargarna last night, said: "Somerset were one of the teams I fancied before the season began. I earmarked them along with Reading as possible contenders. However, I still believe Monarchs will win the league, that is something I haven't changed my mind about."
Monarchs are scheduled to visit Somerset next month and they will head south fully aware that the Rebels are very strong round their own circuit.
However, Lawson is already looking forward to the showdown for one good reason. He wants to prove to himself that his poor display in last week's Premier Pairs event at the Somerset venue was just a one-off.
The Perthshire ace scored just three points, while partner Matthew Wethers did a lot better with 12. "I had the wrong gearing on," said Lawson, "the track was slick and I overcompensated. I was very disappointed with my display. I kept making changes to my bike during the meeting but to no effect. I'm going to have to think hard about my set-up when we go back on league business, it will be such a big match for the whole team.
"In hindsight, the track probably wasn't as slick as I thought it was. I was basically underpowered. I have some clues as to what to do next time.
"It was worthwhile competing in the Pairs and having a bad meeting because I can now do something about it before the league trip. I made a decent gate in one race but everyone passed me because my bike had no speed at all. The gearing I had on was one I would use for tracks like the Isle of Wight or Sheffield. It was a high gear which wasn't suitable for Somerset."
Lawson's immediate focus is to help steer Monarchs to a double win over the Potters, who haven't been able to buy a win lately. However, they surprised everybody by beating an improved Berwick Bandits side last Saturday to lift their spirits.
With a 15-point maximum against Sheffield at Armadale a fortnight ago, Lawson underlined his growing stature as a top-line performer at the Lothian Arena. But, with some of the fastest times of the season under his belt, he said: "I'm happy with my form, but I'm not complacent, and I still think I can get even more out of my engines.
"I need them to be in tip-top shape because a lot of good riders are due to visit in the coming weeks, guys like Daniel Nermark (pictured] and Tai Woffinden. Both are very hard opponents and I must be able to match them for speed.
"A lot depends on track conditions and I'm working on a couple of options to improve them."
Lawson, while respecting Stoke, feels they are no match for Monarchs, who are rock solid at Armadale.
"The whole team is keen to keep our current momentum going and we all think we can win both matches this weekend. We also have to keep targeting away matches.
"However I don't think we'll win at Somerset. Their riders have all got their engines pretty much dialled in down there. And the slick surface does give them a good home-track advantage. In saying that, I'm sure we'll beat them at Armadale. It's going to be vital to our championship hopes that we win at the tracks Somerset don't.
"We have a good record at Stoke, for instance, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's return match. I like their track. It can be heavy on occasions, but the heavier the better as far as I'm concerned. That way you don't have to think, the bike just goes well."
Ben Barker, aged only 20, skippers the Potters in only his second season with the club. Stoke will use a guest for injured Lee Complin and Danish duo Klaus Jakobsen and Jesper Kristiansen make their Armadale debuts.
With the new averages in place, Monarchs skipper Derek Sneddon drops down to reserve to partner Aaron Summers, swapping places with Andrew Tully, who moves into the team proper.
Thomas Jonasson will miss the match after crashing in a Swedish League fixture on Tuesday. The 21 year old has ridden ten meetings for Monarchs so far this season but has missed a number of others through injury and fixture clashes.
