Josh Bates has joined the Rapid Solicitors Lions and will make his Elite League debut for the club on Saturday against the King’s Lynn Stars subject to the approval of the British Speedway Promoters’ Association.
The teenager who won a hotly contested British Under-21 Final at Wolverhampton in April will continue to ride for Sheffield in the Premier League and Mildenhall in the third tier, making him one of the busiest riders in British Speedway.
With the arrival of Bates, Leicester have released Tom Perry who came to the club as part of the Fast-track scheme that is aimed at giving British riders opportunities at Elite League level. Perry scored sixty total points from ten appearances before a broken collar-bone whilst guesting for Ipswich last month side-lined him. The twenty-one year old planned to return to racing following a practise session on Saturday only to aggravate his injured shoulder in a fall which ruled him out of the Lion Cubs National Trophy match against Stoke last Sunday.
“Tom has given us great service and is as committed as anyone but there is only so long that you can continue soldering on using other club’s riders. I am sure that Tom will find another club quickly once his shoulder heals and we wish him all the best for the future” stated the Lions Team Manager Norrie Allan.
Apart from his win in a National Individual Championship, Bates also impressed Allan during the World Championship Under-21 Qualifier at Leicester in May. “Josh was unlucky not to reach the final. He fell when placed second in his opening ride but then scored nine points from his remaining four heats. Had he not fallen and maintained his position then Josh would have qualified for the final” added Allan.
Perry’s place at Swindon on Thursday will be covered by Joe Jacobs.
