LEICESTER will go up against former skipper Max Fricke for the first time when they host King’s Lynn at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday (7.30pm).
Fricke was a hugely successful member of the Watling JCB Lions’ set-up for three seasons as they stepped up to the top-flight, and he led the side to two league Grand Finals, and to major silverware in the KO Cup last year.
Over the winter the club took the decision to go in a different direction with their team building, whereupon Fricke made the move to the Adrian Flux Arena, and his first return is set to be a matter of major interest.
The No.1 role for the Lions has been taken by Ryan Douglas, who raced to an emphatic 15-point maximum in their last home meeting against Northampton which saw their league campaign get off to a winning start.
Douglas and Fricke are scheduled to clash at least twice on Thursday, including in Heat 1, and it’s a fascinating side-plot to the overall aim for the Lions of adding more league points.
However, the home side will be without Dan Thompson who has formed a strong pairing with Douglas in the early weeks of the season.
Thompson is currently sidelined with a broken collarbone and with all six Premiership clubs scheduled to be in action on Thursday, the Lions will operate rider replacement which means Thompson’s rides can be taken by Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth and reserves Drew Kemp and Dan Gilkes.
Fricke is far from the only former Leicester rider in the Stars’ ranks as they also include Chris Harris who rode for the Lions back in 2023, whilst 16-year-old Cooper Rushen has moved into the top league for the first time with his local club, having been a highly popular member of the Lion Cubs last year.
And there’s another familiar face alongside Rushen as with Jody Scott ruled out after a crash at Northampton last week, the Stars have recruited Joe Thompson as a guest.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “Obviously we know how good a rider Max is, and we’re not going to rubbish him now because he’s not riding for us!
“But when he was let go for a couple of reasons and Ryan Douglas became our No.1, there were people who said Dougy isn’t a No.1 in the Premiership, and I think he’s already proved he is very much a No.1 for Leicester.
“I’m sure Max will enjoy the track, but our boys are enjoying it too and it’s a meeting we’re really looking forward to.
“I think the teams are more even this year in general and this may well be a very close meeting on Thursday.”
Supporters unable to attend the Hydroscand Arena should note that the meeting will be live streamed on Lions TV, available from: https://www.leicesterlionstv.com/ .
LEICESTER: Ryan Douglas, Dan Thompson R/R, Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Dan Gilkes.
KING’S LYNN: Max Fricke, Paco Castagna, Chris Harris, Ben Cook, Jan Kvech, Cooper Rushen, Joe Thompson.
