Speedway: Howarth proving to be one 'L' of a reserve rider for Monarchs

KYLE Howarth chucked away his "L" plates this week after passing his driving test at the first attempt - and the Manchester-based teenager is also in top gear for Edinburgh Monarchs speedway team at the moment.

Howarth, who is hoping he can help Monarchs tame Plymouth Devils at Armadale tonight, was one of the few home riders to hold his head high after Sunday's 52-43 Premier League defeat at Newcastle Diamonds, a contest Monarchs had been tipped to win.

Howarth scored eight points from reserve, which was double the individual totals of skipper Matthew Wethers, Craig Cook and Kalle Katajisto, three members of Monarchs' alleged top five. Howarth insisted Newcastle were let off the hook saying: "We allowed them to get away at the start of the match but we also made a few mistakes. Obviously, you have good meetings and bad meetings, but everybody tries to have a good meeting, we let Newcastle open up a big lead after just a few races and it was hard to pull that back, especially away from home."

From a personal point of view, the 18-year-old star was satisfied with his own display. "I was pleased with my score and though some of the other guys didn't score as expected, we thought it was a meeting we could win because we have a great team spirit in the camp and I think we are capable of winning anywhere. It was very disappointing that we lost."

Howarth added: "Newcastle is very much a gate and go track, you can pass, but there wasn't a lot of it on Sunday. We didn't gate and that made it very difficult to get points from the back. I've been consistent since I came back from injury and this is my aim with regards to my scoring. I don't want to be up and down. If I can score six or seven points every week then I'm happy with that. Obviously, I'd like to score more than that, but that's hard in the Premier League, but I'm enjoying myself in the higher division.

"If you make a mistake you learn from it and this makes you a better rider."

Howarth was given a taste of life in the Elite League recently when he turned out at No.?8 for his parent club, Poole Pirates, against Swindon Robins. Howarth did not disgrace himself, picking up one point from his three outings.

"It was great for me to be riding alongside riders' like Chris Holder and Scott Nicholls because I used to watch them on TV with my dad and they were people I looked up to, and now, two years, later I'm racing with them, it was unbelievable.

"My ultimate aim is to ride in the Elite League on a permanent basis because I want to get to the top of the game in speedway, but I'm taking things one step at a time for now. I want to get to Grand Prix level but I'm not thinking about that right now even though that is what you work for throughout your career. You ride hard and apply yourself and, hopefully, the rewards will come."

Howarth also revealed: "I've had a couple of chats with Poole since I turned out for them and they are hoping to give me a couple of more opportunities in the future. Poole will continue to give me goals and in the long run this can only benefit me."

Although newcomers Plymouth are anchored at the foot of the table, their circuit will be new to most of the Monarchs squad when they travel to the St Boniface Arena for the return clash on Saturday, except for Howarth and his reserve partner Tim Howard who have ridden there at National League level.

Howarth says: "I think most of the guys will do all right round the place, it's a small track and is probably tighter than Armadale but not so fast, but we should be well capable of winning races down there and it would be nice to pull off a quick league double after our Newcastle defeat."

Monarchs last met a Plymouth side almost 50 years ago and this year's vintage, despite propping up the table, have taken three points of highly-fancied Somerset Rebels and h won away at Leicester Lions.

Taking everything into consideration, Monarchs will be disappointed if they don't notch up twin triumphs this weekend.

"I've been consistent since I came back from injury and this is my aim with regards to my scoring" KYLE HOWARTH