Leigh Stefan Lanham (born 15 August 1977 in Ipswich, Suffolk)[1] is an English former motorcycle speedway rider.[2]
 | |
| Born | 15 August 1977 Ipswich, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1993-1997, 2002-2003, 2009, 2012-2013 | Ipswich Witches |
| 1997 | Exeter Falcons |
| 1997 | Bradford Dukes |
| 1997 | King's Lynn Stars |
| 1998-2006 | Arena Essex Hammers |
| 2007-2008 | Lakeside Hammers |
| 2010 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 2010-2011 | Newport Wasps |
| 2012 | Coventry Bees |
| 2014 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 2015 | Somerset Rebels and Scunthorpe Scorpions |
| 2016 | Rye House Rockets |
| Individual honours | |
| 1997 | British Under 21 Champion |
Career
editSon of former rider Mike, Lanham joined Ipswich Witches in 1994[3] and won the British Under 21 Championship in 1997.[4][5] He reached the World Under 21 Final in 1996 and 1998 and has finished in the top six of the British Speedway Championship.
In December 2011, he signed to ride for Coventry Bees in the Elite League as a double-up rider, sharing a team place with Aaron Summers.[6] Following the closure of the Premier League Newport Wasps team, Lanham rode for the Rye House Rockets for a short period, before re-joining his home town club Ipswich Witches, following an injury to Morten Risager. Leigh retired from speedway in January 2017 at the age of 39.
On 14 September 2018, Lanham was chosen to ride the final 4 laps at the Arena Essex raceway. During his ten years with the Arena Essex Hammers and Lakeside Hammers, Lanham became the club's all-time leading appearance maker and highest points scorer.[7]
References
edit- ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Panthers swoop to sign Lanham". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. 3 May 1994. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
- ^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Four Complete Bees", speedway365.com, 23 December 2011, retrieved 2011-12-23
- ^ Hammers legend Lanham ‘honoured’ to ride final laps at Arena-Essex Raceway, romfordrecorder.co.uk, 20 September 2018