Thompson Takes The Bonanza

NEWS Saturday 28th March 2026, 11:44pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs number one Dan Thompson started his UK season in the best possible fashion as he took top spot on the podium in the annual BEN Fund Bonanaza at Ashfield on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old doing it the hard it way as he battled from the back in both the semi and final on his way to gold saying after, 'It was a really good night.

'Obviously I know the track at Ashfield and my time at Glasgow was good but it was great to come back and win this and show the Edinburgh fans what I can do and what they can look forward to this year.'

The headline news was obviously Thompson's performance but it was an encouraging night all round for the Monarchs as Justin Sedgmen headed the programmed heat qualifiers on his way to a fourth place finish while Kye Thomson recovered from a first heat two minute disqualification to finish a couple of points away from a semi final spot.

The omens were good from the off as both Thompson and Sedgmen sat atop the standing on six out of six after two heats.

'Sedgy' roaring from gate one in the first race to head three home stars, Thompson repeating the trick in a heat four that would see teammate Kye miss the two minutes due to feeling a chain defect on his way to the tapes that he didn't want to risk turning into something worse.

The Monarchs top pair would make it two from two in their second outings, Thompson in particular showing his mettle as he went wheel to wheel with Chris Harris before coming out on top on one of the early contenders for race of the night.

Things are never plain sailing though as both Sedgmen and Thompson would record last places from the graveyard gate three that wouldn't record a win all night in their third rides as the field bunched up.

At this point it was hard to predict an outcome as the early pace setting Monarchs pair alongside home men Leon Flint, Kyle Howarth and Kevin Juhl Pedersen and Berwick's Peter Kildemand were all tight at the top of the leaderboard with the expectation pre-meeting favourites Harris and Brennan would click into gear also.

The later pair would need to watch on though as the challenge for the nights glory would carry on.

Sedgmen shaking off his third ride blob to take the checkered flag in his next two, this included a heat 17 win over Thompson.

As it all shook out there were three riders tied at the top on 12, with Sedgmen first through to the final due to his four heat wins, Kildemand joining him due to a heat 18 win over Flint.

This meant it was Flint, Juhl Pedersen, Thompson and Danny King that faced off in the semi final.

King was away best with Pedersen behind and Thompson trying to make his way from the outside gate in third.

By this stage the dirt line was the place to be though and the new Plymouth man opted to play it safe sitting low as the Monarch made his move first off rounding Pedersen before slingshotting his way to the front.

The very impressive UK debutant Pedersen taking note as he would make the switch out wide to round King on the last bend and make his way to the final also.

Sedgmen had the first pick of the gates for the finale opting for the inside as Thompson found himself in gate four once again and perhaps by this stage of the meeting this was a mistake by Sedgmen.

The Aussie admitting after he wasn't sure where to choose, electing for gate one due to having a pair of heat wins from there including one over Thompson earlier in the meeting.

As it was it was the home man Pedersen that would hit the front entering the first bend, Thompson wouldn't be denied though as he squeezed between the Dane and the fence out of bend four to romp to victory.

A stall setting night for the latest member of the Blue and Gold on what was a very positive night to start 2026's track action.