‘HEAVY hitter’ Lewis Kerr has joined the Poole Pirates seven for the 2025 season.

Kerr has been one of the most consistent seven-point averaged riders in the past few Championship season and rode for Berwick Bandits in 2024.

He brings a 7.76 average and will take his place in the Poole side as a heat leader after finishing in the top 15 averages in the Championship last term.

Kerr said he was buzzing for the season with Poole.

“I've never, never been so excited for a season,” he said.

“Joining Poole is massive for me. I think it's going to elevate my career to another level and I'm really excited.

“2024 was a tough year for me as I was riding injured for the majority of it and my engines weren't the best, so I didn't feel like I had any speed anywhere.

“So I've got all new engines, all new equipment and am going to be back to my best. So I am really looking forward to it.

“And I think we're going to carry on the winning mentality that Poole always has. So yeah, I’m buzzing.”

Poole promoter Danny Ford told the Daily Echo he was delighted to welcome Kerr to the club.

“We were in the market for another heat leader, a heavy hitter to come in with the departures of Tom [Brennan] and Ben [Cook].

“Obviously we'd have loved to have retained either of those, but they're both moving on from Championship racing, and we were looking at who was available, and Lewis made it very clear that he would absolutely love the opportunity to come ride for the Pirates.

“So that opened up negotiations and we got a deal done very quickly.”

On Kerr’s 2024, Ford said: “He perhaps didn't have one of his better seasons last year, but he was carrying that number one at Berwick, which comes with a lot of pressure.

“Obviously, he won't be carrying that Poole.

“He was going out okay until he picked up an injury which curtailed his season.

“I don't think he was ever fully fit after that. So, hopefully we can provide a good environment that Lewis can thrive in.”

Kerr previously told the Daily Echo in 2017 when he rode for the club for six meetings as injury cover for Kyle Newman that it was always his aim to ride for the Pirates.

Asked how important that desire to represent the club is when looking for new riders, Ford explained: “That's all we want, really.

“There's been riders even in this past offseason who we've approached and we don't want to play second fiddle to anyone, to be honest. The riders either want to come to Poole or they don't, simple as.

“We're not going to chase them. If they want to come, we'll get a deal done.

“That desire hopefully makes them join our mentality and pushes them that extra little step to deliver on those occasions when you need it.

“So, we only want riders where Poole is the first choice, simple as that.

“Lewis made it really, really clear to us that this is where he wanted to be and he felt that we can get him back to his best. He's very good friends with Richard Lawson, which will certainly help get him settled.

“I just draw this back to a few seasons ago where we brought Richard in 2022.

“Everyone knew Richard was a very solid rider, but since coming to Poole, he's grown into one of, if not the best and most consistent rider in the league.

“We just need to see that kind of growth from Lewis, we know he's got it in him, he's shown it in the past.

“He just needs to stay fully fit, get settled in and dialled into the Wimborne Road circuit and I think we can see the best of Lewis Kerr.”