SOME speedway fans won't be reading too much into tonight's top-of-the-table Premier League speedway clash between Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs and Somerset Rebels at the Oak Tree Arena – as the outcome may not have a great bearing on the eventual destiny of this season's championship.
Monarchs are not expected to smash their hosts' unbeaten home record, just as Somerset are unlikely to turn Monarchs over in Friday's return fixture at Armadale.
But, while the Monarchs management team realistically believe the Rebels are simply t
oo strong at home to yield anything, reserve ace Andrew Tully is more optimistic about Monarchs' chances of springing a major shock.
The Bathgate racer said: "I think we can do pretty well down there. You look through our team and every single one of us is capable of scoring something. We are certainly not travelling with a defeatist attitude."
Monarchs have gained a win and a draw at Somerset in recent years, but club director Mike Hunter admitted: "Somerset are very powerful round their own track. However Rye House managed to score 38 points in the Knockout Cup a few days ago. And we might be reasonably optimistic we can do better than Rye House. It certainly would take a mammoth effort on our part. The way Somerset have been riding at home they rarely fail to hit the sixty-point mark."
The Premier League crown will ultimately be decided on the road and Hunter is of the opinion that Somerset have easier away matches left than the Capital outfit.
Apart from their Edinburgh trip, the Rebels have still to go to the Isle of Wight, Berwick, Reading, Birmingham, Sheffield and Rye House.
Monarchs face visits to Stoke, Redcar, Newcastle, and Glasgow.
"Somerset will be going to two teams who have major injury problems at the moment, namely Birmingham and Sheffield. Whereas the teams we are going to have strengthened up. So we are going to have to make our own luck," said Hunter.
This weekend could see a decisive shift in fortunes with Monarchs travelling to Stoke while Somerset go to Berwick Bandits, a track Monarchs gained a draw at not so long ago.
"I don't think Somerset will win at Berwick," said Hunter. "But our trip to Stoke is a critical test for us. It's a pretty big match especially as Somerset have already won there.
"But since then Stoke have two Danes in their team they didn't have when Somerset triumphed."
Once again Reading's Mark Lemon will guest for William Lawson, who is expected to return from injury in time for Monarchs' home derby against Glasgow Tigers on Friday week.
If Monarchs are to stun Somerset there can be no room for error. And skipper Derek Sneddon is anxious to bag a few points in the wake of his poor performance at Workington Comets. The Falkirk rider picked up just two points from his four starts as Monarchs went down 53-39.
Sneddon reflected: "I don't think I have ever seen Derwent Park as slick as it was for that match.
"Personally the meeting was a disaster. I fell in my first ride then had a bike problem in my second. The engine felt as if was tightening up, so I was forced to switch bikes, there wasn't much else I could do.
"Although it felt better it had too much power, it kept spinning and I couldn't get any traction to the back wheel. I bore right through the tyre and had a puncture."
He added: "I would love to score a few points at Somerset, but it's not a track we have done that well at in recent years.
"Somerset are unbeatable at home and we can't shake them off at the top of the table. The title looks like going down to the wire. But we must remain focused on our own matches and not worry about what Somerset are doing."
Meanwhile, Monarchs have confirmed they will contest the second leg of their Premier Trophy Final against Birmingham Brummies at Perry Barr Stadium on September 28.
Monarchs lead 65-24 from the first leg.
The full article contains 696 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
