LEICESTER Lion Cubs hand a debut to new signing Calum Mitchell when they face Middlesbrough in the WSRA National Development League at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Sunday (3pm).
Mitchell has joined the Lion Cubs as a replacement for the retired Sonny Springer having enjoyed a promising first season in the sport with King’s Lynn in the parallel NDT competition.
The league situation sees the Lion Cubs still looking to chase down Oxford Chargers, who are five points clear at the top of the table although they have raced one more meeting.
Both sides are at home on Sunday as Oxford race the Steelers at Cowley at the same time as the Lion Cubs meet the Tigers.
Elsewhere in the team, Max James is still ruled out after his crash last month so rider replacement is in operation once again, and Ben Trigger continues as captain.
Middlesbrough include several riders with Leicester connections including popular four-year Lion Cub Tom Spencer who was part of the title wins in both 2022 and 2024.
They also track the Pijper brothers, Ace and Stene, who both race for the Fox Cubs, along with two other former Lion Cubs riders, Jamie Halder and Kai Ward.
Three points are available for Leicester if they win the meeting, as they enjoyed a 22-point victory when the sides met at the ECCO Arena in June.
Leicester manager Jen Crossland said: “We’re still doing all we can to catch Oxford, and this is another meeting we need to win.
“The performance last time out against Edinburgh was a really strong one and hopefully we can come up with the same again, but we know Middlesbrough have riders who know our track well.
“It will be good to welcome Calum for his debut, and riding alongside Cooper (Rushen) should take a bit of pressure off him, and as with everyone what we’re looking to see is progress.
“It should be another entertaining meeting and I’d encourage everyone to come along and spend their Sunday afternoon of the Bank Holiday weekend with us.”
LEICESTER: Cooper Rushen, Calum Mitchell, Max Perry, Max James R/R, Ben Trigger, Ryan Ingram, Eli Meadows.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Ace Pijper, Elliot Kelly, Stene Pijper, Jamie Halder, Tom Spencer, Kai Ward, Charlie Southwick.
