Robert Eriksson confirmed what many had suspected. He is to take the 2001 season out of British Speedway.

Robert has recently been appointed the selling agent for the Italian manufacturer of speedway engines GM. Robert will need to build up a distribution network in Sweden and will be unable to combine this with riding in the British and Swedish leagues.

Robert spoke in the Edinburgh Pink:

"I won't be back next season but perhaps I would be able to return for the following year. It was thought I was going to be a factory rider for GM but there was never any truth in this. All I am doing is selling bits and pieces for as their appointed Swedish distributer."

"If I do come back, I will come back to race for Monarchs. I don't want to ride for another club."

This will leave Monarchs with a problem for team building in 2001. There are suggestions that Kevin Little will not figure in Monarchs' plans for 2001. There is always uncertainty if Peter Carr will continue for another year. David Kinvig in the Edinburgh Pink even suggested the unthinkable, that James Grieves could return to Armadale!

Ross Brady and Blair Scott look good bets for the second string places. Edinburgh have no shortage of candidates for the reserve places. Derek Sneddon and David McAllan, if fit, could join the current incumbents in consideration for places. That leaves the Edinburgh promotion with the problem of finding a couple of heat leaders.

Monarchs problems this year have been down to having only two genuine heat leaders. This is essential with a 45 point limit, which is likely to operate next year. This year, it was hoped that Ross Brady or possibly Blair Scott would come through as the third heat leader but it hasn't really happened. With Kevin Little dropping a point from his already low 1999 average, Eriksson and Carr have never recieved the backing needed to win away matches.

One obvious contender will be Jan Andersen, especially if his high 1999 Elite League average is reduced during his spell with Ipswich. Another former Monarchs on the look out to move to the Premier League is Laurence Hare although the travel involved might be prohibitive.