William Lawson knows he is under pressure to merit his Edinburgh Monarchs' place

William Lawson will update his equipment

William Lawson was a mighty relieved man when Edinburgh Monarchs offered him a new contract last week as senior reserve for next season.

Some fans had been critical of his exploits last season and Lawson admits he has got to make more of a mark in 2020 to prove the doubters wrong.

The Perth-born rider says: “I’m delighted to be back at Armadale next season. I know I need to make a right good go of things as well as being mounted on better equipment that I had last term.”

Lawson thinks Monarchs’ new-look team has the promise and potential to make a serious challenge for the league championship crown come the spring. “We look strong at the top end of the side, but you also need points all the way through the team and that’s what I’m hoping to bring next season.

“I think I was averaging around five points a meeting last season. It’s where I want to pick up from next season, perhaps even improve on that figure.”

Meanwhile, it is more than 50 years since Monarchs last tracked a Norwegian star in their ranks. But new signing Lasse Fredriksen is confident he can follow in the tyre tracks of the legendary Reidar Eide who thrilled capital speedway fans back in the glorious sixties.

He says: “I don’t see why not, and feel I’m now ready for my big break in the UK. I feel I have lacked meetings so far, so racing for Edinburgh in the Championship division will be good as it will give me many more meetings than I have been used to before.

“I hear Armadale is a difficult type of circuit but I know once I get enough practice round the track I will get to grips with the different racing lines.”

Fredriksen added: “Armadale is a small technical track but these are the type of tracks I like rather than the longer ones. I’m confident I can do well for Edinburgh.”