Derek Sneddon finds himself much in demand in the opening weeks of the new speedway season.

Not only has the 25 year-old Falkirk-born rider been appointed captain of Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs for the second year but he will also race for a Hungarian team in the Polish League.

Sneddon is as much in the dark about how the Hungarian side Miskolc found out about him as anyone but it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.

Monarchs’ director John Campbell was approached initially by the club and Sneddon admits that he was sceptical at first.

“They contacted John just before Christmas and at first we thought it was a hoax and we didn’t know how much truth was in it,” he explains.

“But we started emailing back and forward and one thing led to another and it was genuine.

“I am very keen for the riding experience over there and I’ve signed a contract there but how many weeks I’ll be riding I’m not sure of.

“It depends on how much money they can raise to fly me back and forth and also how I perform when I’m over there.

“But it’s a very good opportunity to be given and I’m going to grab it with both hands.

“They will have to work around my fixtures with the Monarchs but they will be Sunday meetings and I anticipate flying out on Saturdays.”

Sneddon has even given an interview to a Polish speedway magazine as interest in the Scot has been considerable.

“I had an interview which they conducted via email and they were keen to give me a bit of publicity before I came over,” the rider continues, “And I was only too happy to oblige.

“I’ve spoken to one or two riders who have experience in Poland and there seem to be longer tracks and it will be different surfaces so it will be a different way of riding.

“It’s a big sport over there and it’ll be good for me to get involved and it can only help my overall development as a rider.”

Sneddon has been in the sport for ten years and has also ridden for Glasgow Tigers and Newcastle Diamonds but he has never looked forward to a season with such anticipation.

He is the oldest rider in Monarchs’ youngest-ever team but the early results have been encouraging before they embark on the league campaign.

They have already won the Spring Trophy with a two-leg victory over local rivals Glasgow Tigers and also recorded a double win over Berwick Bandits in the Premier Trophy.

Sneddon admits he has been surprised at the way the team has come together so quickly but knows a long, hard road lies ahead.

In 2007, Monarchs had a disappointing campaign as they failed to muster any sort of challenge after being hit by injuries.

“It will take time for everyone to get to know each other’s riding styles but I think everything will fall into place,” he says.

“Nobody wants to have a season like last year. For whatever reason, things happened and it didn’t turn out the way that we wanted it to.

“But we can’t change what’s in the past. We can only look to the future and hopefully this will be a completely different year and I believe it can be.

“It’s great to be captain again. Personally, I feel it lifts my performance as you can’t give people a hard time if you’re not doing well yourself. It’s something I enjoy doing.”

Sneddon, who keeps fit for speedway during the winter by playing football regularly, is happy to have survived in a sport where the cost can be prohibitive.

“It’s frightening the expense involved in speedway and, if it wasn’t for very good sponsorship, a lot of us would not be riding,” he admits, “Personally, I couldn’t afford it if it wasn’t for sponsorship.”

RM
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