LAWSON READY FOR TESTIMONIAL YEAR

Richard Lawson is ready to launch into a third straight season with the 'Wessex Marine' Pirates and will start the season as the club's number one, a position he has held since July.

Reacting to his recall, Lawson who will turn 38 next year, claimed "It was so easy for me to agree to a third time with Poole. I never considered going anywhere else, although I was approached by a few clubs, which is always nice to hear, but for me this in now my club and where I feel I belong."

With an 8.48 average and having been granted a Testimonial season, Lawson acknowledges that "2024 does feel like a big year for me and as always I will be ready and look forward to the challenges. Holding the number one race jacket is something that I am proud of. It is tough and I enjoy the pressure of that. I am really excited about the prospect of having my Testimonial and that too is an honour, and especially so, as I am holding it at Poole. I feel like the fans have taken me under their wing from day one. The support and reception I get on a weekly basis is like no other. So with that in mind I hope we can all have a great day when the testimonial meeting is held. Plans for the event are already taking place and we will be getting a date locked down very soon. It is still a little too early to get rider confirmations for the meeting but we have got some good things in the works which will hopefully bring some high profile riders, some that haven't been seen at Poole for years and some Poole legends amongst them. I want to make it so the fans genuinely look forward to being there and make it a meeting not to forget."

Speaking of the return of Lawson, promoter Dan Ford said "for sure it is going to be a big year for Richard all round. He has a Testimonial meeting to look forward to and we are delighted to be able to stage it here at Poole where Richard seems totally at home since joining us just prior to the 2022 campaign. He certainly underlined to us his true credentials last season when he took on the number one berth and was unbeaten in more than half of his rides from that position. We are delighted to have him back for a third term and I am sure that our sentiments will reflect those of our supporters."

Lawson, whose British career began with Redcar in the Conference League back in 2008, has enjoyed some of his most successful seasons as a Pirate, having settled seamlessly into a heat leader berth with the club since his debut in 2022. 

The Pirates still have four more riders to declare ahead of the season.