LEICESTER Speedway are delighted to confirm the return of the hugely popular Josh Bates.
Bates, the track record holder at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena, will take his place in the Watling JCB Lions side as a direct replacement for Ellis Perks, who announced his retirement late last year.
He was originally due to be at Somerset but they have withdrawn from the Championship for 2021 with Plymouth stepping up to take their place.
"I'm so pleased to have the chance to go back to Leicester, a track I love,” he said.
"I was disappointed when Somerset made their decision, but I can understand in many ways why they made it and I hope they'll be back next year.
"I've always seemed to go well around the Leicester track and it didn't surprise me when they were so successful in 2019, bringing Stewart Dickson in was a great move and I'm looking forward to riding for him."
Boss Dickson is delighted to get his man.
He said: “It’s great to have Josh back on board, as soon as we got confirmation that Somerset were going to give 2021 a miss it was a no brainer for us.
“Josh is still the fastest man recorded around the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena and for him to be our fifth highest averaged rider shows you the strength of the top five.
“He knows all the riders and will fit in very nicely along with what we already have on board.”
