Ross Brady has signed for Edinburgh Monarchs for the 1999 season on loan from Peterborough. He will fill of of the two vacant reserve places in the Monarchs line-up.
Brady is 17 and comes from Broxburn. He has long been recognized as by far the best young prospect in Scotland if not in the UK. He comes an a 3.00 average. This could have been much higher except that he was not allowed to go on loan with Berwick at a time when he was going well in order to preserve his three point average.
Ross has been regarded as a big track specialist and blossomed when he left Linlithgow to join the Peterborough Conference League team. He had struggled to come to terms with the very tight Heathersfield circuit but did well at Peterborough.
Many will recall Ross out gating Kenny McKinna four times in a row at the Neil Hewitt benefit meeting at Linlithgow. Very few have ever done that!
Alex Harkess commented in the Edinburgh Evening News:
"We are very pleased to get Ross because there has been considerable interest in him from other clubs."
"He comes in on a three-point average, but he has the potential to increase that. In the early days he'll probably do better away from home on the bigger tracks."
"He'll have to learn to ride Armadale but he has the skill and the right attitude to master it - and he will master it."
Ross himself commented:
"My ambition was too ride for Peterborough but their decision to move up to the Elite League cost me my chance of a first team place. Edinburgh then became my first choice. Joining Monarchs will help my career because it will get me used to racing on smaller tracks, although I much prefer the bigger type of circuit."
"I don't want to broadcast my goals in case I don't achieve them, but I don't want to be sitting on a three-point average at this time next year."
"I'll give 110 per cent for Monarchs."
This leaves just two places for Monarchs
to fill: the third heat leader slot and the second reserve place. Kevin
Little or an 8.00 overseas rider will take the heat leader spot. A number
of riders including David McAllan are reputedly in the frame for the reserve
place.