CAIRNS TAKES OVER AT LEICESTER

LEICESTER will race into 2024 under new ownership after the club takeover by Paul Cairns was completed.

Cairns, father of British Youth 250cc Champion William, has purchased the Lions from the Bates family, and is excited about the prospects for the future at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.

He said: “I have long-term plans and a vision of what I want to do, but the main thing for now is that I’ve secured the future of the club.

“We have a long-term lease which is paid up for quite a period of time, so there are no financial or planning pressures, and keeping the existing team behind the scenes is also very important.

“I already have a great working relationship with Stewart (Dickson – co-promoter/team manager), I think we fit together very well, and we both have the same vision and want to take the club forward.

“Leicester is already on a secure footing, the Bates family did a very good job with what they had, and they’ve been very public that their reason for selling the club was because they were under pressure with their other businesses. I’m very pleased to take it on from them, and I do think there’s more to come.

“I’ve got to stress that this purchase isn’t about Will – he will be fine with or without Leicester. This is about the fact that I see Leicester as an under-utilised asset in British Speedway.”