LEICESTER are close to completing their line-up for 2026 with the news that Great Britain racer Kyle Howarth will be back with the club this year.
Howarth, a former Watling JCB Lions captain from their days in the Championship, rejoined the club in the top-flight last season after giving extensive service to Sheffield, where he had celebrated a Testimonial.
He enjoyed a strong campaign at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park where he was top bonus points scorer after forming a successful combination with Ryan Douglas.
And he played a vital role in the Lions’ dramatic play-off victory over his former club, with nine points against the Tigers in the second leg of the semi-final.
Howarth said: “I was really happy with last season. It was a change for me being with Leicester in the Premiership, but I know how Stewart (Dickson) works and what his expectations are of the riders he picks.
“I felt like I did a good job, I was solid in my position and I was winning races, and me and Dougy had a good partnership.
“When you look back at my average, I was scoring double figures during the time we had rider replacement when Luke (Becker) was injured, and obviously that means there were extra rides so my average was lower.
“I was happy with the points I was scoring but then I had a bit of a blip towards the end of the season just before the play-offs, and I put my hands up for that.
“I just went off the boil, maybe a bit of fatigue kicked in, but then I managed to pick it up in the play-offs and the Final.”
Howarth became a firm favourite with the Leicester fans during his previous stint, where he led the club to the Championship play-offs twice having topped the table in 2022.
And he was able to continue that relationship with the crowd last year, who were always appreciative of his all-out efforts.
He said: “Fans want to see out-and-out racing, and at least if I’m at the back I’m trying – I’m not just sat at the back wasting their time, and when I’m at the front I’m going for it!
“I’ve always got on well with the Leicester fans. They’ve been great with me, and had a lot of respect for me, and I appreciate that.
“I think that comes from my riding style, I’m 100 per cent from the get-go and that’s what fans like.
“The Leicester track does suit me, I’ve got some really good racing lines around there and I can come from the back. It’s a good track for me, and last year I also found a bit of a corridor for myself and managed to do some good cutbacks and get past people!
“It was nice that Stewart wanted me back in the team. He knows what I can do and what I can bring to the table.”
Howarth joins Ryan Douglas, Sam Masters, Dan Thompson and Nick Morris in the Lions’ top five, along with Dan Gilkes lining up as Rising Star, with one more rider to be confirmed to complete the line-up.
