Paco Castagna completes Edinburgh Monarchs septet for 2026
Paco Castagna insists the fire and passion of the Edinburgh Monarchs fans can drive the team onto silverware next season.
The 31-year-old completes the septet for 2026 and will return to captain the side once more, his fifth year as a Monarch.
The flamboyant Italian missed the Capital club's final outing last season, the second leg semi-final defeat to the Glasgow Tigers, after suffering a broken shoulder riding in the Golden Helmet event in Pardubice. However, he insists he is now fit and raring to go when the new Championship campaign gets underway in the spring. And he can't wait to be among familiar faces once more, emphasising he is desperate to bring success to the supporters.
Castagna joins team-mates Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, and Jordy Loftus in representing the Blue and Gold next year.
“I am very happy to be back and the biggest reason for that is the fans," Castagna explained. "They all have Edinburgh in their hearts and I do as well, it gave me great pride as captain to be the face of the club when it came to interviews on BSN and things like that, but now I want to be the face of the club by being the one to lift trophies and bring glory back to the club. I think we can do that next year.
"We have many things to achieve. I think the team is strong and we played it perfectly with team building and the new rules. We have Dan at No.1 to start the season and everyone can see what he can do both at Armadale and away and he will be a great addition. I really feel we can go better than we did last year.
"Looking around the league, I think everyone is strong so it will be a great season for the fans as all teams look good. I think the play-offs are the absolute minimum we can achieve but I think with this team we can go further than last season and I am super hungry for glory.”
Castagna added: "Fitness wise it’s all good, I would say my shoulder is back to as good as it can be and I am happy with it. I will need to keep working on it constantly but that is part of speedway. I have been back on the bike testing and it doesn’t affect my riding at all.
"I still think there is more to come from me. I increased my average last season and felt I was more consistent but I can still score more. I wanted to be back at Edinburgh is the relationships I have built up, don’t get me wrong it can be a tough place to come compared to others with travel and driving to airports down south and things like that.
"But the people and the club are great and coming round on a victory parade at Armadale and seeing the fans cheering and the young fans with their flags and posters, there is nothing like it. I try to install that same passion in the rest of the team and I have a few things planned for this year as well.”