According to a survey of journalists around the country published in 'Speedway Star' magazine, Edinburgh are rated third favourite for the Premier League title. Workington are front runners followed by Sheffield.
If Monarchs do win the title, it will probably down to progress made by Edinburgh's youngsters especialy reserves Christian Henry and Brian Turner. Both have been tipped to raise their average. If they put a point on each, this should ensure a respectable finish. I they put on two points each, this might be sufficient to tilt the title race in Edinburgh's direction.
Christian Henry certainly has the potential to become a five-point rider if he can adapt to condition in Britain. Fifth place in the Australian Under-21 championship is testament to this. John Campbell commented in the Edinburgh Pink:
"I had hopes Christian would be a three-point. I've been following what he's been doing in Australia and I think he'll be better than that. However the Under-21 event took place on a 570-metre circuit. We have to be careful about predicting what he'll achieve in this country because he won't encounter such a big track in the Premier League."
"Christian is used to tracks with massive corners and wide straits. Until we see how he copes around some of the smaller tracks it woulld be unwise to guess what sort of progress he'll make."
"When it comes to winning the League the crucial factor is the ability of of some of the three-point riders to increase their average. Ross Brady, for instance, started with a three-point average for us last season and eventually more than doubled that. We'd love someone to do that this year."
Campbell commented about Blair Scott and Kevin Little:
"We have Kevin and Blair in the team because we believe they have it in them to hike up their averages. Blair is still young and he can get better. If he can manage half of what he does at Armadale away from home, he can become a six or seven point rider."
Brian Turner was signed to add a bit of experience at reserve:
"I signed Brian because I firmly believe he has the capability of at least maintaining his average. If we hadn't got Brian we would have netered the season with two untried reserves.
John Campbell enters his fifteenth year as a promoter and has yet to pick a title-winning team. He argued that the third place achieved last year was not good enough:
"We have a team who have a chance of winning the League. It's no more than a chance."
At least two correspondants have tipped Monarchs for the League in the 'Speedway Star' survey. The well respected Barry Wallace, presenter at Newcastle and Workington made Edinburgh his first choice as did Exeter correspondant Nigel Walrond of the Sunday Independent, Plymouth. Those predicting second place for Monarchs included Paul Hiscock of the Essex Chronicle, Keith Hamblin of the Berwick Advertiser, David Kinvig of the Edinburgh Evening News, and Nigel Pearson, the Workington hotline presenter. Steve Gill of the Daily Record Richard Crowley of BBC Wiltshire Sound, and Terry Daly of the South Wales Argus had Monarchs in third place. Neil Evans, Stoke correspondant put Monarchs fourth.
Workington appear to be favourites for the title. Most of the correspondants had Workington, Edinburgh, Sheffield, and Berwick occupying their top four choices. Time will tell if they are right.