LEICESTER stars Max Fricke and Ryan Douglas both scored six-ride paid maximums in a big 54-36 win over Oxford at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
The two Australian riders were in unstoppable form with scores of 17+1 apiece as the Watling JCB Lions took another stride towards the play-offs with all three points from the meeting – and Fricke produced arguably the ride of the season along the way with a spectacular Heat 10 effort.
The Lions skipper raised the roof by coming from a 15-metre handicap to pass rivals Charles Wright and Craig Cook on the last lap of the race – a feat very rarely achieved in speedway, especially at this level.
The result leaves the Watling JCB Lions with a nine-point gap over fifth-placed King’s Lynn in the race for a top four finish, and as with the summer of 2024, they can set their sights on climbing higher ahead of the decisive phase of the campaign.
Fricke quickly established control of the first race ahead of a fierce scrap for the remaining positions with Kyle Howarth passing Maciej Janowski for third place only to have the point stolen back by the Pole on the line.
The Spires had a huge stroke of fortune in Heat 2 when both of their reserves fell on successive bends, leading to a race stoppage when the Lions were on a clear 5-1. In the re-run they had to be content with a 4-2 as Peter Kildemand split Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson.
Visiting No.3 Craig Cook was disqualified from Heat 3 when he came to grief after being passed by Howarth into turn three, and the re-run saw Douglas and Howarth bring in the first 5-1 of the night.
The Spires threatened to hit straight back when Luke Killeen made the start in Heat 4 and held second place behind guest Richard Lawson for three laps until Sam Masters worked an opening on the inside.
The home side moved ten points up across the next couple of races, Douglas winning both Heat 5 and Heat 6, the latter seeing some strong riding from Fricke behind him in second place to hold off the hard-charging Lawson.
But the Spires did get a route back into the meeting in Heat 7 as Masters touched the tapes and was disqualified, and at the second time of asking Cook bundled inside Thompson for second place behind Charles Wright and an Oxford 5-1.
Lions gradually built their lead back to ten points as Fricke cleared Rohan Tungate on the first lap of Heat 8 with Thompson third after an initial clash with Killeen, whilst Howarth passed Kildemand for third in Heat 9 as Douglas continued his winning ways.
Fricke was put under pressure when he touched the tapes in Heat 10 and took the 15-metre handicap, and what followed was a sensational last lap as he drove inside Wright heading into turn one, then went back around the Oxford rider on the back straight after going wide, before then getting his wheels in line to switch inside Cook and snatch a brilliant win.
The stadium was buzzing after that display, and the Lions quickly closed in on overall victory with Masters putting a win on the board over Tungate and Janowski in Heat 11, and Douglas reeled off his fifth win in the next.
Fricke and Masters then produced more vintage track-craft on the opening lap of Heat 13, using the inside to great effect to outmanoeuvre Lawson and Janowski, with the 5-1 making it 46-32 and job done for the home side.
Wright picked up a consolation win for the Spires in a shared Heat 14 but the home crowd were desperate to see Fricke and Douglas complete their full houses, and they did so with another clinical 5-1 in Heat 15.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was a very good night, and we’re very happy with an 18-point victory over a team who have certainly picked up in recent weeks.
“We are going to see a lot of the Max Fricke race, that will be on social media over the next 24 hours, but it was a great team performance and very pleasing to see.
“I thought the boys all did well, despite one or two problems, some clutches slipping at the start, but we did a good job.
“We had great backing from the supporters, and the noise in the stadium when Max did that was superb. I’m delighted to have two riders with six-rjde maximums, and I’m really pleased to see smiles on people’s faces.”
Lions next head to Belle Vue on Monday where their first job will be to collect the aggregate point, whilst the Lion Cubs are in action on Sunday (3pm) at home to the Steelers.
LEICESTER 54: Max Fricke 17+1, Ryan Douglas 17+1, Sam Masters 7+1, Kyle Howarth 6+1, Drew Kemp 4+1, Joe Thompson 3, Luke Becker r/r.
OXFORD 36: Rohan Tungate 9+1, Charles Wright 8+1, Richard Lawson 8, Craig Cook 6+1, Maciej Janowski 2+2, Peter Kildemand 2, Luke Killeen 1.
Leicester win the aggregate point
