John Campbell has spent the winter re-building his Edinburgh Monarchs line-up and he said: “I am very hopeful of a strong performance from the team.”
Fans get their first chance to gauge his behind-the-scenes effort when the Armadale men line-up against Berwick Bandits in the BSN Series on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm). The return is in the Borders on Saturday (tapes-up 7pm).
Campbell, co-promoter of the Monarchs, believes the team is “nicely balanced” with two riders at very low averages at reserve, and he added: “I am sure everybody else in the team will at least maintain their average.”
A major coup is the signing of former Glasgow Tigers rider, Dan Thompson, who is installed as the club’s new No 1. Campbell describes the Nuneaton-based Englishman as a race winner. Indeed, he topped the podium in Saturday’s Ben Fund Bonanza at Glasgow, beating a star-studded field.
Campbell revealed: “As soon as Dan Thompson became available we moved. He has said himself this is a place he wanted to come to so it was relatively easy to get him to sign on.
“When you have got that (calibre of rider) you can defend Heats 13 and 15. To an extent, that was our downfall in one or two matches last year.”
Several riders from last year are back including experienced Aussie-born Justin Sedgmen, his countryman Kye Thomson and Italian star, Paco Castagna, and Campbell has added Mitch Cluff, a 25-year-old from New South Wales who started his British speedway career with Plymouth Gladiators.
There he became a victim of the average numbers game during the season and before signing for the Armadale side Cluff spoke to Monarchs’ legend, Sam Masters. He said straight away: “Go for it.” He did.
Campbell said: “I think he will do well.”
Other members of the team are Jonathan Grahn and Jordy Loftus whose 18-year-old sister, Anika, is included in Monarchs Academy.
Campbell said has watched videos from her native Australia and said the Queensland-born teenager, he said, has got some ability. He added: “Hopefully, she will adapt very quickly.”
However, she rode Armadale on Press and Practice Day and Campbell said she found the track “more challenging” than she has experienced before.
Campbell said that Monarchs Academy, with team manager, Scott Wilson in charge, plays a role in the club by allowing riders to believe they have a chance of stepping-up into the Cab Direct Championship.
KEY MEN: Co-promoter, John Campbell is set for the new campaign.
