Kye Thomson is set to return for his sixth season in the Blue and Gold as he lines up for the 2026 Edinburgh Monarchs.
The 27 year-old is looking to build on a strong end to this campaign, “Yeah, it is great to be back and I am looking to kick on again next season.
“From about mid season on to the end I felt I did that this year and that has given me a lot of confidence, I was really enjoying my speedway this year and I didn’t want the season to end.
“I really felt we could go all the way and we were perhaps a little unlucky not to, losing Paco for the away leg at Ashfield was a big blow not just on the track but in the pits also. That has just made me want success even more and I think 2026 can be a big year for the club.
“I gained a lot of confidence and experience riding at number five last year. I enjoyed that and it gave me something to ride for knowing I was in the big heats, I actually hope to be back at number five next year and keep that going.”
As the longest consecutively serving Monarch in the 2026 line up, Thomson has seen teammates come and go and the Queenslander feels the club management have gotten it right when looking at the names announced around him so far for 2026, “It is always a shame to lose riders and Victor will be missed that is for sure.
“Michael as well, it was tough for him coming back from so long out with the injury but he was good to have in the pits as well but speedway teams change.
“The team we have I think we can have a great season, bringing in Dan Thompson is a great move and I will be looking to lean on him as well especially when it comes to gating. He was such a consistently strong starter last season so I’ll be asking him for advice on that.
“At the other end we will have a full season of Jordy and it was great when he came in last season, him and his family were great in the pits and he will ha ve learned a lot. I think he will kick on as well.
“It looks a strong team and I can’t wait to get back for the season.”
With Kye’s return, the 2026 Monarchs will once again have a strong Antipodean feel to it with three other Aussies in the ranks. Thomson currently back home in Queensland albeit with a smaller racing schedule ahead than previous years, “I will not be doing too many meetings over the Aussie summer as it is a lot of travelling and the costs add up.
“Doing the Aussie Championships for example would probably cost me around ten thousand dollars not to mention two weeks off work and away from the family so I made the decision this year that I would rather work and then put the money into my equipment for next year rather than on doing the meetings.
“I will be buying a new engine and some other things, I did that last season as well and it helped so I know this is the way to progress.
“I also have a new fitness regime really looking after my training and what I eat and I think that will help as well.
“I will still be on the bike a lot though, I have a track in my back garden so I can pretty much go out whenever I want so I won’t lose my sharpness. I have also booked into a couple of Dwayne Rew’s training schools at Ipswich [Queensland not Suffolk] which is actually very similar to Armadale so I’ll be ready to go when the season comes.”
That just leaves Thomson to give his Christmas message to the Monarchs faithful,
“I hope everyone has a great Christmas with their loved ones and that time goes quick so we are all back at Armadale soon.
“I think 2026 will be a big year and we are all desperate to bring success to the club and fans.”
Words by Edinburgh Speedway – Feature Image courtesy of Peter Hill
