BRITISH Under-21 Champion Kyle Howarth will provide Bees with a much needed boost according to promoter Mick Horton after he agreed a move to Brandon for the closing stages of the Elite League season.
The Bees have lost their last two meetings against King’s Lynn and Swindon but could officially book their place in the play-offs should they beat Lakeside at home on Bank Holiday Monday.
Howarth rode for the club last year and produced a series of strong performances in the run-up to and in the Grand Final itself last year.
He joined Swindon over the winter but returned to Brandon in April to win his Under-21 crown.
After losing his place with the Robins as part of their mid-season team changes, Howarth now rejoins the Bees (subject to BSPA approval) as a replacement for the unfortunate Stuart Robson, who has been out of action since the end of July after a crash at Lakeside.
“We knew that the team needed a pick-me-up, so to speak, and we knew that realistically we needed to make a change,” said Horton.
“The concern with Robbo (Robson) was over whether he was going to get back to proper fitness in time, and we believe a change is best at this stage.
“I’ve had in-depth conversations with Kyle over the last couple of weeks. We both agreed that mistakes were made (in the past), but it was evident at the start of the conversation that he wanted to come back to the club, we want him back and he wants to put pen to paper for next year as well.
“It strengthens the team, the other riders are happy that he’s a good addition, and another factor is that he’ll have a point to prove against Swindon. He rode for them, he knows their track well and the way it’s looking we could be against them in the play-offs.
“Kyle appreciates that the crowd are still behind him and still rate him, and he wants to come back and score plenty of points.
Horton also paid tribute to Robson, added: “I want to thank Stuart for his efforts, he’s still a part of the club and we very much hope to still see him at the stadium and at the dinner-dance.
“Stuart is a professional and I think he knew it was on the cards. It’s nothing against him at all, but we had some points to play with and things have looked a little stale over the last couple of meetings, so I think the time is right.”
There was more good news for Bees this week after Jason Garrity was given the all clear from MRI scans after his recent back injury.
Garrity was hospitalised at the end of last week and missed the home defeat to Swindon.
Danny King is also continuing with private physio sessions on a daily basis after his own back problems as Bees prepare for a schedule of four matches in five days next week starting with Monday’s clash with the Hammers.
