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Last Updated: Feb 3rd, 2010 - 20:18:37 |
Belle Vue have signed experienced English Leigh Lanham after their move to bring in Canadian champion, Kyle Legault, was ruled out by a technicality.
Ipswich-based Lanham, the British Under-21 champion in 1997, spent much of his career in the Elite League before joining Premier League Newport last season.
The 32-year-old will share a reserve berth in the Aces' side with Sheffield's Salford rider, Ricky Ashworth, under the rule which allows Premier League riders to double up with top-flight clubs.
Aces' team boss Chris Morton had set up an alternative for Legault after asking the Promoters' Association to clarify the Canadian's eligibility.
He explained: “Legault missed last season because of injury and it was ruled he couldn't double up for us on his 2008 average, even though it was below the four-point limit.
“We were aware of a possible technical problem over signing him and had opened talks with Lanham so we wouldn't be caught out. It has been confirmed that he is eligible to ride for us.
“We are delighted to have signed a rider of Lanham's experience because he will know all the Elite League tracks intimately. Also, he is thrilled to be joining us.
“He is more than capable of doing the job we are expecting of him and I regard it as a very good signing. He's spent his Elite League career in the main body of his teams and I am sure it is a very good signing for us.”
Lanham, who started his career at Ipswich in 1993, has a 7.34 Premier League average which comes down to 7.16 with his 2.5 per cent reduction for being British. That halves to 3.58 to give him an Elite League average.
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