LEICESTER have completed the signing of former captain Kyle Howarth who will now race for the club in the top-flight for the first time.
The 30-year-old former British Under-21 Champion enjoyed an excellent two-year spell with the Watling JCB Lions in 2021-22 when he led the side to strong league results and was involved in much of the best racing at Beaumont Park.
He now heads back to the East Midlands after an extended spell with Sheffield, having been with the Tigers since 2016 when they were a second-tier club before moving up to ROWE Motor Oil Premiership level with them in 2021.
Howarth skippered the Tigers to a memorable Premiership title win in 2023 to add to a previous senior league success with Wolverhampton in 2016.
He celebrated a Testimonial with Sheffield earlier this year before the club confirmed earlier this month that he would not be part of their 2025 plans. He returns to Leicester on an average of 5.18, which is discounted to 5.05 for team building purposes.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “For me, Kyle is a bona fide second string in this league. He never got a spell at reserve last season with the way the Sheffield team was built.
“So he rode at No.2 or No.4 for them, and there are several bonus points in his average because I recall him and Jack Holder getting plenty of 5-1s at home.
“We knew a little while back that Kyle would most probably be moving on, and Leicester as far as I know was certainly his first choice, he was on the ‘phone to me asking to be kept in touch, he was looking for a change and Sheffield were looking to go in a different direction as well.
“He had good times with us last time he was at Leicester, we finished well clear at the top of the league ahead of Glasgow and Poole in 2022, and he seems to enjoy the track.
“I think it’s fair to say he hasn’t been great on his last couple of visits with Sheffield, but there’s a big difference between riding Sheffield every week and Leicester twice a season, and I’m sure he’ll get himself dialled back in with a few practice sessions, and he’ll be a good signing for us.
“I know what I’m going to get from him, which is 100 per cent effort, and he’s also a good rider to have in the pits as well which I’m mindful of. He knows how I work, so there will be no surprises for any of us, and the two of us are very keen to strike up the relationship again.
“I’d like to thank (Sheffield promoter) Damien Bates for letting us know quite early that Kyle would be available, and that helped us to quickly get a deal done.”
Howarth joins skipper Max Fricke and Rising Star Sam Hagon as confirmed Lions signings for 2025, with more news expected this week.
*SUPPORTERS are reminded of the Season Ticket launch day at Beaumont Park on Sunday November 24 (10.30am-1.30pm).
2025 Season Tickets will be available for £253 (adults) and £231 (Over-65s/students), to include all 12 ROWE Motor Oil Premiership home fixtures. (Not including play-offs, KO Cup, challenge matches, Individual/Testimonial meetings, BSPL shared events.)
Season tickets also include a team photograph, a centre green experience and reduced admission of just £6 to Lion Cubs home matches in the National Development League.
They will be on sale from the corporate box (turn three) at the stadium, and payments can be made by cash, card or cheque. A passport sized photo will be required.
Refreshments will also be available as thanks to Pukka Pies we will have a selection of pies and sausage rolls to give away.
For those unable to make it on the day, Season Tickets will launched online from Monday November 25.
