LEICESTER are set for a packed Bank Holiday Monday of racing with three matches at two different venues!
It’s a big day for the Watling JCB Lions as they kick things off at home to Birmingham in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, with the action getting underway at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park at midday.
They then head up the M1 to Sheffield for a 6.30pm start at Owlerton, and that match is followed by a clash in the WSRA NDL between the Steelers and the Lion Cubs.
Last Thursday’s superb win at Ipswich has left the Lions well placed in the play-off picture, and they can open their advantage on the chasing pack still further with a win over the bottom-placed Brummies.
Lions were 50-40 winners at Perry Barr last month so a win would also give them the aggregate point, but they will be fully aware that their Midlands rivals’ best performance of the season came when they visited Leicester in the second leg of a KO Cup tie in March and very nearly pulled off a victory.
Since then, the Brummies have released Antti Vuolas with Paco Castagna effectively taking his place, and they have recently welcomed Matej Zagar back after visa issues – but a huge blow has been the loss of Danish star Michael Jepsen Jensen who has quit UK racing.
The visitors have chosen to cover his absence with rider replacement on Monday, whilst the Lions name a full-strength team.
The trip to Sheffield completes a trio of tough away matches, with the Lions already in credit from their victories at Birmingham, Oxford and then Ipswich.
The Tigers have been strong on their home circuit this season, although they only just edged past Ipswich recently, and they went top of the table with a good week on the road which included wins at King’s Lynn and Oxford, the latter in a Super Heat.
And it’s the first of what is set to be several meetings of the sides over the coming weeks as they also clash in the semi-finals of the KO Cup early next month.
Lions vice-captain Sam Masters said: “I was stoked that we won at Ipswich. We’ve got a good bunch of boys here and it’s basically the same team as last year, so we know the drill.
“We all knew each other anyway and I think that’s why we did what we did last season, getting on with mates, and that brings points.
“It shows when you go to these away tracks that we all dig deep and have a good time and pick up some points on the road.”
Following the Premiership action at Owlerton, the Lion Cubs race their second match of the WSRA NDL season when they take on the Steelers.
They already have a win on the board from Good Friday at Belle Vue and Ben Trigger, Max Perry and Max James all rejoin the side – the latter following a month out after he stood down from his Championship place with Edinburgh.
However, the Lion Cubs will be without flying reserve Cooper Rushen as he is engaged on SGP3 business, having qualified for what is effectively the World Youth Championship Final when he won his semi-final in Slovenia at the weekend.
Rushen now heads to Prague for Friday’s Final and the Lion Cubs will use Edinburgh’s Mark Parker as a guest on Monday.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
BIRMINGHAM: Tobiasz Musielak, Paco Castagna, Michael Jepsen Jensen r/r, Keynan Rew, Matej Zagar, Jonas Jeppesen, Jason Edwards.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering, Justin Sedgmen, Chris Holder, Lewis Kerr, Leon Flint.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
STEELERS: Nathan Ablitt, Luke Harris, Vinnie Foord, Mickie Simpson, Luke Harrison, Jamie Etherington, Harrison Rogers.
LEICESTER: Ben Trigger, Eli Meadows, Max Perry, Sonny Springer, Max James, Mark Parker, Ryan Ingram.
