Edinburgh have made a major step forward in their team building for the 2026 season by signing one of the UK’s top prospects and certainly one of the successes of the season just past, Dan Thompson.

Monarchs Co-Promoters Alex Harkess and John Campbell attended Wednesday evening’s Monarchs Fans Trust AGM to provide a club update, including the happy news of Dan’s signing.

Fans felt that their team had a decent season in 2025 but the obvious problem was that while the side was solid throughout, there was a lack of punch in the big heats towards the end of the matches. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but the signing of 21 year old Dan on an average of 8.71 should give them a fighting chance of sorting that out!

Dan rode three times at Armadale last season and won 12 of his 14 races, totalling 38+1 out of a possible 42. The young man, British Under 19 Champion in 2023, is happy to be moving across Scotland and says:

“I’m really pleased to be coming to Edinburgh, it’s a track I’ve done really well on this year. I think I only dropped a couple of points on my visits. It’s not somewhere I’ve always been strong at but I’ve gradually improved and I think I can really make a good home advantage of it. It’s somewhere I enjoy coming to and it does seem like a really good club from what I’ve been told.

“Things went well for me this year, I moved forward again, got a league title with Ipswich and obviously just missed out with Glasgow. That’s the way it goes sometimes, it was unfortunate but we put everything into it. I’ll have another chance at it in the Championship next year with Edinburgh!

“Edinburgh were unlucky not to be in the final themselves and from what I’ve heard of the team for next season I think we can go all the way.”

On his average he is sure to be number one in the side at the start of the season but that ties in with Dan’s wish to move forward each year.

“It doesn’t really bother me where I ride in the team, other riders might focus more on that than I do. It’s only a number on your back and if you want to be the best in the sport you’ve got to be racing the best guys and I think I am slowly getting to that stage. My average suggests so anyway. I’ll just take the challenge on and see how it goes!”

He will be aiming to move forward on all fronts. “I’ve signed contracts in Poland and working on a few other bits and bobs. Each year doing a bit better than the last year, slowly moving forward. Moving to the number one position in the Championship, into the main body of the team in the Premiership. A few more challenges, I don’t want to run before I can walk sort of thing.

“Last year I won the semi to get into the British Final, I put myself about in the final but Belle Vue’s a tough place to go. There were a few big names in that. I’ll be trying to push on in that competition this year.”

Dan has no doubts about fitting in to the Edinburgh side. “I say hello when we meet and I get on well with everyone to be honest. I am a people person and we’ll be working hard from the first day I arrive in Edinburgh. Travelling to Edinburgh won’t bother me on the travel side, I’ve had a year of the Scottish trips already.”

Everyone at Edinburgh will look forward to welcoming a rider they already admire greatly.

Sponsor Dan’s 2026 race suit!

You can be the main sponsor of Dan’s 2026 Monarchs race suit for just £199 including the following perks:

• Your name on the back of Dan’s 2026 race suit.
• Your name also included on all 2026 Monarchs race suits in a collage.
• A race shirt replica with your name on it.
• A photo of you with Dan.
• An invitation to group photo with all sponsors and 2026 Monarchs team.
• Entry into a prize draw to win great prizes.
• E-certificate in recognition of your sponsorship.

This package is strictly limited to one per rider. Get in touch here to sponsor Dan’s suit now.