Speedway star Dan Thompson swaps Glasgow Tigers for Edinburgh Monarchs

It's a major coup for the Capital club who announced the signing of the 21-year-old Nuneaton star last night, with Thompson widely regarded as one of British speedway's top prospects.

Dan Thompson has previously guested for the Monarchs but is now a permanent member of the 2026 team. Picture: Peter Hill.

He will spearhead a side that finished fourth in the standings last season before exiting the play-offs at the semi-final stage, a 91-89 aggregate defeat to none other than the Tigers, Thompson himself scoring 11 in the second leg at Ashfield. He missed the first leg at Armadale due to racing commitments on the continent. Glasgow went on to lose the final by a whisker. With the score tied 90-90 on aggregate, a 7-2 superheat loss eventually saw the Poole Pirates retain their crown for another year.

The English racer has now left the past behind and is fully focused on racking up the points in the Blue and Gold when the new season gets underway next spring. He won 12 of his 14 races at the West Lothian circuit in 2025 so Monarchs supporters should be excited.

"Edinburgh were unlucky not to be in the final themselves last year and, from what I've heard of their team for next season, I think we can go all the way," Thompson said. "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 (in the Premiership), and obviously just missed out with Glasgow. That's the way it goes, it was unfortunate but we put everything into it. I'll have another chance at the Championship next year with Edinburgh!"

Thompson admits he isn't fazed by riding at No.1 and believes it will bring the best out of him on track. He is expected to double up again with a Premiership outfit and has also just signed a contract to race for Polish club Lodz in Ekstraliga 2.

"It doesn't really bother me where I ride in the team, other riders might focus more on that than I do," he explained. "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.

"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 No.1 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.

"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, I've had a year of the Scottish trips already."