LEICESTER raced to their biggest league win of the season so far in front of the TNT Sports cameras with a superb 56-34 success over Sheffield.
Watling JCB Lions skipper Max Fricke stormed to a full 18 point maximum, but he received strong support from his team-mates who pulled together impressively to cover for the absence of injured American star Luke Becker.
Following their 54-36 victory in the Knockout Cup at home to the Tigers last Monday, Stewart Dickson and his side were expecting a much stronger challenge from the South Yorkshiremen.
But the Lions were far superior away from the tapes and raced some clever opening turns to put the Steel City side to the sword.
Three 5-1s in the opening five races saw them establish an early ten point lead - and that became a 22 point gap by the conclusion of Heat 10 with the Lions in devastating form.
They provided 11 of the race winners with nine heat advantages doing the damage.
Said Fricke: “It was a really great night for the whole team.
“All the boys are working hard and I think we’re heading in the right direction.
“We’re spewing that we’re missing Luke but I think that this was a good display to kind of do it for him and hopefully we can carry this form on throughout the season.”
In addition to Fricke’s full house, fellow Aussie Sam Masters was unbeaten by an opponent in four of his six outings whilst Ryan Douglas started off with three straight wins before finishing with a couple of third places.
Kyle Howarth was involved in three 5-1s whilst Drew Kemp contributed 6+1 from reserve with Rising Star Joe Thompson again learning plenty from yet more experience on the big stage.
The Watling JCB Lions now have a small break in their schedule ahead of this weekend’s Speedway Grand Prix double in Manchester. They are back in action at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park a week on Thursday (June 19, 7.30pm) when they face champions Belle Vue.
LEICESTER 56: Max Fricke 18, Sam Masters 12+3, Ryan Douglas 11, Kyle Howarth 9+3, Drew Kemp 6+1, Joe Thompson 0, Luke Becker r/r.
SHEFFIELD 34: Josh Pickering 8+1, Tom Brennan 7, Chris Holder 6, Justin Sedgmen 6, Leon Flint 5+1, Anders Rowe 2+1, Lewis Kerr 0.
