LEICESTER hand a debut to new signing Dan Gilkes as they go into home and away clashes with Oxford in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on a busy Easter Monday.
The Watling JCB Lions first make the trip to the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium for a 1pm start, before the return fixture takes place at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park at 7.30pm.
Gilkes has signed for the Lions as their new Rising Star, having previously raced in the Premiership for Sheffield.
And ironically his first appearances for Leicester come against the club for whom he races in the Championship, as with Oxford running at all three levels of the sport, he joined the Cheetahs in the winter.
Gilkes said: “When the phone rang on Friday morning it was a no-brainer. Leicester is a track that’s only up the road and I’ve always got on with Stewart (Dickson).
“I’m looking forward to the challenge, working alongside Stewart, and obviously I know Sam (Masters) and Drew (Kemp) from previous teams, and we get on quite well.
“It will be good to meet the other boys on Monday and hopefully hit the ground running. I’m looking forward to working alongside the likes of Max Fricke, as you don’t get that opportunity every day.
“It’s going to be weird to be on the other end of the pits at Oxford, but really it’s the perfect situation for me because I’m going to a track that I’m comfortable on, although it’s another level up.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself, I want to go and enjoy my racing and let the talking be done on the track!”
The team switch of Gilkes for Sam Hagon is the Lions’ only change from the side defeated by title favourites Ipswich last Thursday, as they head to a venue where they were successful on their second visit last year.
Oxford have endured a tough season so far with both Erik Riss and Peter Kildemand having brief spells on the sidelines due to injury.
Riss scored 20 points on his last home appearance, and although the Spires are without captain Maciej Janowski who is competing in the Polish Golden Helmet, they bring in the in-form Tom Brennan to guest in both meetings.
For supporters attending Leicester on Monday evening, there are 100 free Easter eggs to be handed out to the first 100 children into the stadium.
Both meetings are set to be live streamed with passes available from https://livestream.oxfordspeedway.club/ and https://www.leicesterlionstv.com/ .
OXFORD: Rohan Tungate, Erik Riss, Charles Wright, Peter Kildemand, Tom Brennan, Francis Gusts, Luke Killeen.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Dan Gilkes.
