ROB READY TO ROLL

NEWS Thursday 5th March 2015, 8:18pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Robert Branford doesn't have many happy memories of his last visit to Armadale in the middle of the 2013 season. In fact such was the impact of his massive crash that day in August he really doesn't remember much at all.

That night he was guesting for Sheffield and tangled with Claus Vissing in the run to the first bend and there was the most awful crash. Rob ended up with a broken shoulder and two wrecked bikes that night. That ended his season and it has taken him a long time to recover financially from that night and he missed out on the 2014 UK season.

However, he is now back in his base in the Midlands of England keenly anticipating the start of the season. Said Robert, " I've been working really hard back home to build up some cash reserves. It's not cheap to set yourself up in the UK. I've already bought a van and it cost me almost us much to get insurance. That's eaten into my reserves in a big way so I'm really keen to get started to earn some money."

Robert will, initially, travel each week from his base in Derbyshire and that will be a good place to be to allow him to fulfil his National League duties at Rey House.

It is a big season for Robert. He'll be seen as the senior reserve in the Border Roofing Monarchs team and he's relishing the prospect of kicking on in his British Speedway career.