Edinburgh Monarchs are proceding with their plan to buy out Ross Brady's contract with Peterborough.
The youngster was going knowhere at Linlithgow and went down to Peterborough to resurect his career in mid season of 1997. He then completed the season with the all-conquering Peterborough Amateur League team before graduating to the Panthers' Premier league team in 1998. He made a limited number of Premier League meetings and rode in the Conference League with Mildenhall.
While Ross was considered as primarily a big track rider, he has adapted well to Armadale this year and Monarchs are very keen to keep him for next season and beyond.
The transfer could be progressed next weekend at the British Speedway Promoters' Association conference in Bournemouth. Alex Harkess commented:
"We will talk to Peterborough over the course of the three days. It is still our plan to to try and buy Ross's contract. But there are things that need to be discussed first."
There is also the question of whether Ross wishes to transfer permanently to Edinburgh as opposed to a second loan spell.
In the past ambitious riders were keen to move up to the Elite League as soon as possible. Brady has gone on record as rejecting a move up a division until he has established himself as a heat leader in the Premier League. It is possible that perceptions will have been changed by Carl Stonehewer's great success in 1999 while riding in the Premier League. Carl not only established himself as a regular in the England team but also qualified for the Grand Prix after finishing third in the Grand Prix Challenge.
Maybe riders will be more prepared to stay in the Premier League in future after Stonehewer's exploits this year. After all, Jack Young won the World Championship while riding for Edinburgh in the Second Division!