Sarj Raring To Go

NEWS Sunday 23rd January 2022, 2:00pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

With five of the 2021 What the Fork Monarchs in regular action over the winter in Australia and Argentina respectively, one man who is looking on enviously desperate to get started is James Sarjeant.

Sarjeant of course saw his 2021 campaign end in a horror crash at Armadale but the former Redcar man is now fully recovered and raring to go saying, "I've not really been able to do much up till recently from the crash last year. I only just went back to work after the new year and I'm allowed back at the gym now as well so it's been two weeks of work and the gym so it feels good to get back to normal and that's what I needed to get back to normal.

"I'm going to get out for a practice as soon as I can, the weather isn't the best just now but I'll be heading to Scunthorpe or Redcar or anywhere that has a practice day to get back on the bike and get a feel for it again. I will also be riding in the Ben Fund meeting so I'll have had a few laps by the time the Monarchs season starts which is good."

Sarjeant was meant to be a Monarch in 2020 and 2021 before covid then the rising star scheme meant this wasn't to be but the Yorkshireman knows this is all just part of the sport and is delighted to be a Monarch this year, "Obviously 2021 it didn't work out for me to be a Monarch which was just one of those things, it's speedway! It's mental how many changes happen in a year in speedway but that's nothing new and I'm used to it by now. I've always said it would be good to start a season with Edinburgh and get a season under my belt with Armadale as my home track so yeah I'm looking forward to it.

"I tend to do better on the smaller more technical tracks like Edinburgh probably due to when I was younger and rode the training track at Sheffield. Armadale is a good home track to have as you can pick up points by just being patient and riding it correctly so I am looking forward to having it as my home track all year."

Starting at reserve Sarjeant will be expected to be a powerhouse and the aim is this will be a short stay at the bottom end of the lineup. "I don't mind riding anywhere in the team but I'm here to score points and put points on my average and move into the 1-5. I don't want to be at reserve all year so the first target is to get into the 1-5, that's the plan."

When asked his thoughts on the rest of the Monarchs lineup and the prospects of a successful year ahead Sarjeant is bullish on how he thinks it will go. "I've not really spoken to anyone yet but it is a good set of lads, Josh and Sam are good lads - I get on with them. Paco is another good lad and I see he's been riding in Argentina doing pretty well, I was watching one of his races on Instagram, so he'll be ready. Then the new lads we'll just need to look after them when we go to away tracks, we'll let them get dialled in at home and help where we can when we are away."

"I used to look at other lineups and assess them but you can never tell, you can look at a team that looks strong but if they don't gel or hit form then it means nothing. Then on the other hand you look at a team like Workington a few seasons back, they all got on well and all had a good laugh and it worked out for them - they won everything. I think we have a good set of lads and while some people may not agree with the team that has been put together, nothing is won on paper and I know we will have a good team spirit and if we all hit form then we'll be there at the end of the season."

With the sting in the tail that will surely come from Sarjeant it certainly bodes well for big year ahead for the Monarchs as we go in search of silverware.