Ricky Wells Becomes A Monarch

NEWS Saturday 3rd December 2016, 10:20am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs have made Ricky Wells, the American World Cup star, their second signing for the 2017 season.

He is still only 25 even though he seems to have been at the top of our league’s rankings for ages. He is actually New Zealand-born but USA-qualified.

We will have to find a new name to describe as “Armadale’s best visiting Rider” as we have always described the former Sheffield and Workington man, and it’s a move Ricky himself describes as “overdue”.

He said “It’s definitely overdue, I think that’s the word for it, I said to John I think I should have been at Edinburgh a couple of years ago, but it’s happened now. I had a good time at Workington, no complaints there, sure it’s a bit of a shame to leave but once I sorted a deal out with Edinburgh I was very excited and I’m looking forward to the start of the season now.”

He knows he is regarded as an Armadale specialist, and added “Everyone seems to think that so it’s up to me to make that happen! It’s always been a place that I’ve enjoyed riding, I’ve never had too many issues riding it. Some people don’t like it but I’ve always loved it, I was quite lucky and found a good setup there.

“It’s similar to the tracks back in America, not that far off, but one of the biggest things is that Doc prepares it as he does Wolverhampton which I also like. I don’t think I’d get round it so well if it was prepared like some of the tracks in the Premier League. It’s a good track with good racing, I’ve always found it to be a wide open racing track. It makes a difference if you are coming to your home matches looking forward to riding the track.”

Ricky doesn’t know yet who he will be riding alongside but hopes that it will include Sam Masters, a rider he has much respect for. “I’ve known Sam for quite a few years now, he kind of took the role of Cookie last season and had a really good year. I hope he’s back because I think the team should have an out and out no. 1.

“I rode at no. 1 for Workington the whole year last season, so if Sam’s there I’ll have to get used to going out in heat 4 instead of heat 1 to start with. I know one thing, I think we would be quite strong especially at home in heats 13 and 15, Sam’s always been hard to beat there and I’m sure we’ll come on strong later in the meeting.”

He aims to have the best of equipment and a lot of the preparation for that is already done. “I’ve got one new bike. I only used one bike last season. Everything will be fresh, I got a new engine sent over here to Australia so that I can do some practising. I’ve always been on good stuff, you need to be to do well. The top riders aren’t going good and scoring points on bad equipment.

“I’m coming over on 20th February but I got quite a bit done before I left so that I can enjoy the sunshine here before I have to head off to the UK!”

Like everyone these days, the American is hoping that he will be able to double up with a Premiership team. “I didn’t double up last year and I think it kind of hindered me a little bit. I’ve been in touch with a few teams and I’ve got to the point where I’d ride for any club that doesn’t race on a Friday. Belle Vue and Leicester haven’t started anything, and King’s Lynn are quite empty, but I’d ride anywhere. I like to keep busy. I’ve got bikes in Denmark as well, with Rene Bach. “

Ricky was based in Workington last year with he said was “Good for getting out cycling on the open roads,” but he plans to be somewhere near Manchester this season. “It would be nice to stay in Edinburgh but it’s just such a long drive to anywhere.”

Having kept the Evening News correspondent in touch with when announcements were going to be made, and in fact having held off from making this announcement on Friday in order to give the News sufficient warning, the club were astonished to find the signing announced in Saturday morning’s paper.

All signings subject to BSPA approval.