FORMER Grand Prix winner Hans Andersen is on his way back to Leicester in a stunning transfer move.
The Watling JCB Lions have elected to make a double change following the recent decision of Ty Proctor to quit, and Andersen – who rode for the club in the top-flight in 2018 – will come in at No.1 for his full-time debut in the Championship.
In order to accommodate the Danish star’s 9.00 average, the Lions have also released Josh Bates and he will be replaced by a second new signing, details of which are currently being finalised.
Promoter and team manager Stewart Dickson has confirmed the decision to make a double change was driven by concerns over the fitness of Bates, who was due to make his comeback from a shoulder injury at Wolverhampton on Monday but was ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19.
Andersen will make his second debut for the club in Saturday’s Championship clash with high-flying Scunthorpe at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena.
Dickson said: “The thing I liked was that sometimes when you contact a rider, you get a lukewarm feeling. When I dealt with Hans, he was up for it straightaway.
“He’s ridden with Nick Morris before at Swindon, he’s been about the scene for a while and I’m sure he’ll slot into our team perfectly.
“I did feel our top-end was pretty much strong enough with what we had, but when a rider like Hans becomes available you really have to act.
“He’ll be a guaranteed scorer at this level, I think that goes without saying, and I think he’ll be good for the twins (Dan and Joe Thompson) as well.
“I know it means I’ll possibly have four riders competing for Heat 15 whereas previously I had three, and sometimes you like to spread that out, but I don’t think we’re losing too much balance with the changes we’re making.
“We decided to go down the route of a double change because we knew Josh was struggling with his shoulder, and we did expect him to be out longer and would be needing more treatment, so that’s when I got the go-ahead and started talking to Hans.
“I want to thank Matt Ford at his parent club Poole for permission to speak to him, and also a massive thanks to our owners because I went to them almost cap in hand again, and once again they’ve backed me, and they’ve backed the club.
“The Bates family have repeatedly shown they’ve got Leicester Speedway at heart, and they’ve done it once again for me, for us, for the club and the supporters.”
Tickets for Saturday’s meeting are on sale from https://leicesterlions.seatedly.com/ with Scunthorpe also having strengthened since their previous visit with the signing of GB star Adam Ellis.
