LEICESTER manager Stewart Dickson says his side will be making the best use of a quiet week before the huge challenge of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final.
The Watling JCB Lions were involved in a sensational semi-final against Sheffield which saw them overcome their opponents by just a single point after 30 pulsating races.
They completed their regular campaign with a win at Oxford last Thursday but this week has largely seen their riders inactive due to the FIM Speedway of Nations taking place at Torun.
The only member of the team who now has an official meeting before the first leg of the Grand Final at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Monday is Joe Thompson, who races for Plymouth Centurions on Saturday – ironically against Leicester Fox Cubs.
Dickson said: “We put a lot into the semi-final against Sheffield, and this week has given us the opportunity to recharge the batteries and galvanise ourselves.
“Ipswich have been away from their track for a while, but from a Leicester point of view we need to make sure we’ve got the energy levels up.
“I’m pretty sure we will have, and what I hope for more than anything else is that both clubs can get decent weather to prepare the tracks.
“I would like to be able to serve up something like we served up in the semi-final, because it would be nice to have a showcase Final regardless of who comes out on top.”
Dickon admits one of the encouraging factors to come out of the Sheffield meeting was the form of American star Luke Becker, who teamed up with skipper Max Fricke for a big 5-1 over Tigers No.1 Jack Holder in the opening race.
Becker, who returned from serious injury ahead of schedule in August, had only scored one point in the first leg at Owlerton, but he was back on form on his home circuit.
Dickson said: “Luke had a really tough night at Sheffield, but what a performance he put on in the home leg, which put the doubts out of my mind that he wasn’t quite right.
“Without that chain coming off (in Heat 8), he would have scored paid-ten at Leicester, and to do that against a team of Sheffield’s level with riders like the Holders and Josh Pickering was very encouraging.
“I know he ended up getting the six points but he would have got paid ten, and for me that was the sort of returns he was giving us at the start of the season.
“Sheffield isn’t his favourite track whereas I know he does like the Ipswich track. It’s not unlike Leicester with the straights and the tight corners, and I think that’s something he’s been brought up on.
“So as much as it’s not a one-man team, it shows you how important it was to have the Luke Becker back that we had at the start of the season.
“He’s been through a lot and has pushed himself really hard to get back, and if anybody deserves to be in a Final it’s Luke.”
Advance tickets for the home leg of the Grand Final are now on sale via leicesterspeedway.com and the club can confirm there will be no increase in admission prices, which are set at regular Premiership levels.
As is traditional, an extended souvenir programme will be produced for the Grand Final and this will be available for £5.
