RYAN FISHER COMES TO MONARCHS

NEWS Tuesday 15th January 2008, 5:58pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have signed American Ryan Fisher who will start the 2008 season as their highest average rider (8.00).

The 24 year old from Riverside, California has already known some ups and downs in his career but he believes he is prepared correctly to find success with Monarchs. He has previously been successful at Elite level with Coventry and Oxford, but struggled with Belle Vue in 2007. He is confident he can return to his best form with Monarchs.

?Last year at Belle Vue I wasn't really fit and my bikes weren't right for the job.

?This season will definitely be better. I will be starting off 100% fit and the bikes will be good. Last year I did finish up with a good motor but I only used it a couple of times before losing my place.?

At Belle Vue in 2007 Fisher was given a good run in the side by the Manchester bosses who could see that he was trying hard.

?I wasn't ready to go from the start, I blew both my motors at the practise and it was a real struggle.

?I never gave up and I gave it all I had, but what I had wasn't good enough. If I had started off the season with good equipment I'm sure I would have kept my place.

?Back home I've been riding the same kind of equipment I had in the UK last year, because you can get by with that, but for the Monarchs I will come over and have the best stuff I can, and make sure I don't have a repeat of last year.?

Fisher will come to Edinburgh with partner Daelynn and their 11 month old baby girl.

?I intend to be over a couple of weeks before the season, and have all my equipment ready and be totally settled so that there is no last minute rush.

?I'm shooting for being the top scorer for sure. I want to get back in the routine, scoring good, and get comfortable on the bikes. I am quite willing to do a couple of years in the Premier League before I start looking towards Elite League again.

?I'm not taking the Premier League lightly but I think it will be more of a racing league than the Elite League. You get to go out and race with the guys rather than say Jason Crump just making a start and leaving you.

?I'm really pleased to be with Edinburgh and I'm looking forward to the season.?

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS 2008: (Signed so far) Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Tomas H Jonasson, Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers.