ONE of British speedway’s most distinctive stars has laid the foundations for life after the sport in Evesham.

The 32-year-old, originally from Cumbria, spends his summers riding professionally around shale-based tracks on motorbikes with no brakes over here and in Poland.

Lawson represents Somerset in the Premiership – the UK’s top level – where he is a team-mate of reigning world champion Jason Doyle as well as riding for Lakeside in the second tier.

This 11th season on the senior circuit has arguably been his most productive to date but attentions have also turned towards a long-term future over the past 12 months.

Yogi’s Kitchen, a coffee shop and café in Pershore, has been a success for Lawson and his wife Chantelle with plans to feature speciality gins and cocktails in a bar on the site.

“It was always the plan to launch after speedway but we got the opportunity when we moved down and thought let’s go for it now rather than a few years’ time,” said Lawson.

“Tying it in with all of the travelling can be a bit of a juggling act but my wife is doing most of the work and we have some really good staff members who help a lot.

“I try to get there as much as I can but I am pretty busy with racing at the moment, I tend to muck in more during the winter.

“It is probably more work than we had anticipated but I think anyone would say that about any business venture. You have to put the work in.

“I have been a delivery man, labourer, plasterer and all sorts of other jobs in the past so I am well versed in being busy over the winter. I am not one of these riders that jets off to Australia and sits around in the sun.

“I would rather be a man of leisure but at the same time, I do get bored. I like to be busy, there always has to be some sort of project going on.”

Lawson’s season is truly kicking in now with Somerset right in the thick of a league-wide battle for a place in the play-offs which will decide the destiny of the title.

Essex-based Lakeside have been one of the dominant forces in the Championship with Lawson winning more than half of his races for them to date, something helped by being based in the Vale.

“We were looking to get a new house and upgrade a little bit when Evesham popped up and looked pretty nice,” he added.

“It ticked all of the boxes so we made the move last year and we are very happy here.

“You are not too far off everything you need, it strikes the right balance and I like being in a lovely part of the world.

“The speedway came into it, the location means I will not be trekking for hours to get to meetings and that was in the back of our minds. It was a great choice on a number of fronts.”