As soon as Kevin Little indicated that he wanted to stand down as Captain of Monarchs, most expected Peter Carr to be first choice to take over.
John Campbell announced last week that the choice was between Peter Carr and Robert Eriksson but the decision would not be made until the whole team were together. Peter was always favourite for the position given the near cult-status he enjoys with many of the Monarchs' younger riders.
Peter Carr commented to the Edinburgh Evening News:
"I didn't really want the job. Kevin felt that he had enough of it and wants to concentrate on other things. It seems it's my turn to be captain."
Peter Carr admitted in the Edinburgh Evening News that he was exactly sure what a captain was supposed to do. Well one thing he certainly has to do is correctly 'call' for the toss of the coin for gate positions. In this respect he must surely do better than his predessor who lost so many tosses at Armadale that many thought that fixed gate positions had been introduced with the home team on gates 2 and 4 for heat 1! He rejected suggestions that the responsibility would affect his form:
"It won't affect my performanec because I won't be doing anything radically different. What does a captain do? Toss the coin and lose! I think."
"When you've got the team spirit that we have among the lads, it doesn't really matter about having a captain. Everybody in the team gets on well anyway, you don't have to engender any spirit."
The win in the Cup last year and the way that the team competed in the League until disrupted by injuries has produced some optimism in the camp this time.
"Hopefully this will act as a springboard for even better things this time. But there are a lot of strong teams in the Premier League. However I'd like to think we are strong enoughto win some silverware. We have a good side, it's evenly balancedand I think we can do as well as anyone."
Carr is happy with the reserve pairing of Christian Henry and Brian Turner:
"Brian is a very good rider with experience behind him. And I watched Christian out on the track and he looke good. I think he'll doe well around the very big tracks."
Carr has invested heavily for his fourth season with Edinburgh:
"I'm certainly very ken to get going and I've spent a lot of money, almost £6,000, on new machinery. Now I've got to try and earn some money! It's vital to invest every two years simply because of the fact that your stuff does get worn out."
Carr has spent a lot of time showing the younger riders how to ride Armadale. Brian Turner and Ross Brady have recorded their thanks for his advice. He thinks that Ross will go from strength to strength this year:
"I think he'll get better and better. Ross isn't a rider who goes backwards and stands still. He's got good bikes and and will go forward. He was so good last year that he could end up being Monarchs' No. 1 and the top rider by the end of the season."
Carr hopes to be the first Monarchs' captain to lead them to a League title:
"It would be nice to win the League because we have already won the Knockout Cup. We were joint leaders with Sheffield until injuries played their part, that's why we lost some matches. But I feel good about our chances provide everyone does their bit."