LEICESTER Lion Cubs were cruelly denied runners-up spot in the WSRA National Development League – but their Fox Cubs did advance to second place in the National Development Trophy on the final night of the season.
The Lion Cubs were edged out 45-44 by Belle Vue at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park as fortune deserted them in the closing stages of the match.
But the Fox Cubs then defeated Kent 50-34 to vault themselves from fifth to second in the NDT table.
The double-header to conclude the campaign produced plenty of thrills and spills, with track conditions excellent considering the recent weather – so much so that Cooper Rushen took over a second off the fastest time seen at Development level in 2025 when he won Heat 10 of the opening fixture.
That match featured a bizarre Heat 2 when clear leader Billy Budd slammed into the fence on turn four but was able to clear the track, whilst the other three riders all slowed expecting the red lights, with Seth Norman recovering first to claim the win.
The Leicester mascot, who has just graduated to 500cc level, was unlucky with mechanical failure in Heat 5 as the Lion Cubs conceded a 5-0 with guest Charlie Southwick coming to grief, but Norman then won Heat 7 in a 5-1 with skipper Ben Trigger doing a super job to allow him to go clear of the Belle Vue riders.
Rushen’s rapid Heat 10 win was backed by the consistent Ryan Ingram for a Lion Cubs 5-1, but their lead was down to just one point with three races remaining.
Heat 13 saw a terrific opening lap with all four riders in contention as Will Cairns made it through on the inside for Belle Vue whilst Rushen and Trigger kept Freddy Hodder at the back.
But Heat 14 was chaotic and Leicester looked set to effectively seal victory with Norman leading on the last lap and Southwick passing Budd into the last bend only to overdo it on the exit and come to grief, allowing the Colts to recover for a 3-3.
Even so, it still looked set to end in a Lion Cubs victory as Rushen and Trigger packed in behind Cairns in the decider, but disaster struck as Trigger suffered mechanical trouble midway through the race enabling Hodder to snatch the all-important third place.
Remarkably it was Leicester’s first home defeat at NDL level since they joined the competition way back in 2019, although they did gain the aggregate point and they therefore finish third in the table, three points behind champions Oxford.
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
LEICESTER 44: Cooper Rushen 12, Ben Trigger 10+2, Ryan Ingram 9+2, Seth Norman 9, Eli Meadows 3+1, Charlie Southwick 1, Max Perry r/r.
BELLE VUE 45: Will Cairns 14, Freddy Hodder 13, Jack Shimelt 6+1, Billy Budd 6+1, Harry Fletcher 4+1, Dylan Huthwaite 2+1, Jack Kingston r/r.
Leicester win the aggregate point
