Derek Sneddon described the opportunity of wearing the number 9 racejacket for Monarchs as a "dream come true". The teenager speaking to David Kinvig of the Edinburgh Evening News was delighted to have finally achieved his objective of a Premier League place.
Derek first came to attention in 1998 after being discoved by Alan Robertson at Linlithgow. He rode for the Dale Devils in the British Development League from 1998 and for Lightning in the Conference in 1999 and 2000. He made his Premier League debut guesting for Hull at Armadale just after his 16th birthday. He made some appearances for Glasgow recently and also appeared fr Monarchs earlier in the 2000 season.
Derek started out on equipment provided by Alan Robertson. Many have felt that Derek would have scored more points in the Conference with faster equipment. He acknowledged that he will have to spend a fortune to be competitive in the Premier League:
"I'm over the moon about the reserve role. To ride at senior level in the Premier League is everything I've aimed for since I started racing. I will have to spend money during the winter on my equipment. I reckon I'll have to splash out £4,000 on a new bike. I'll need a van as well and the insurance on that will not be cheap. The financial outlay does not worry me. I work full time and and I've also got a lot of good sponsors."
"I will just go out and give it my best shot. I'm not sure what people will expect of me. I know myself I will struggle at first. A lot of tracks away from home, I've not seen. But I'm looking forward to teaming up with Christian. We get on brilliantly."
Sneddon scored a brilliant 21-point full maximum in his last Conference League match against eventual champions Sheffield Prowlers. He admits that he will have to step up a grade:
"Moving up at this time will do me the world of good. I will be riding against better riderswhich can only benefit me in terms experience. It will be a learning curve. However my whole career has been a learning curve."
Monarchs knocked back a big offer from Glasgow for the transfer of Sneddon a few weeks ago. Derek commented:
"I was flattered that anoter club was interested in me. But I was glad that John Campbell didn't sell me."
Derek intends to continue to ride in the Conference League. He intends to work on his fitness in his bid to be ready for the higher level of competition in the Premier League:
"I will be riding in trials during the winter and also paying visits to the beach with some of the other lads to keep sharp and in some sort of trim. I need to work on my gating and this will help me in this department."
Having been based at Linlithgow and Ashfield over the past two seasons, Derek will have Armadale as his home track for the first time. He admits that he had problems with the track in the past. After two years the maximum against Sheffield probably indicates that he has finally got the hang of the place:
"I couldn't ride the track in the early days. Now that I've learned it's a brilliant track to ride."
Derek refuses to set himself any targets arguing:
"If I can keep my three-point average home and away I'll be pleased. I can't expect more than that in my first season."
Derek is keen for the new season to start as he prepares for his big breakthrough:
"I wish the new season was starting now despite the fact that the old one has just finished."