LEICESTER will be going for back-to-back wins in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership when they face Belle Vue at home on Thursday (7.30pm).
The
Watling JCB Lions collected a welcome victory at Birmingham on Monday, dominating the Midlands derby virtually from start to finish, and they now return to the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park to take on the Aces.
Recent home matches have seen the Lions beaten by Ipswich in the KO Cup and then by Sheffield in last week’s late turnaround, and building a strong run on their own circuit will be important in their quest for a place in the play-offs.
As ever, the Aces track a strong line-up with captain Brady Kurtz in the form of his life and Great Britain star Dan Bewley building up to the start of the Grand Prix campaign in Croatia later this month.
Former Lions rider Connor Mountain could be a key figure at reserve, having made a good start to the season, and ex-Peterborough man Ben Cook is the other new face in the visitors’ line-up this season.
The Manchester club enjoyed some success at Leicester last year, winning the opening league contest in a Super Heat and also clinching victory in the Premiership Pairs.
Lions boss Stewart Dickson has reverted to his normal home riding order, with Richard Lawson going back into the No.2 berth, Sam Masters and Luke Becker forming the middle order, and Ryan Douglas going back to No.5.
The Australian star has enjoyed his two best meetings of the season recently, scoring 11 points in the home match against Sheffield and then adding 10+1 at Perry Barr on Monday.
Douglas said: “It’s a big meeting against Belle Vue, and we need to win this one.
“Sheffield are obviously a very strong side, they pushed us all the way last week and then got that 5-1 which cost us in the end.
“But if we can just get that one more per cent from every rider then I think we’ll easily have enough to get the win.
“I’m happy with myself and in all leagues it’s going well, so I’m looking forward to keep getting on my bike now.”
Gates open at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday at 6pm with the meeting getting underway at 7.30pm. For supporters unable to attend, the meeting will be live streamed on Lions TV, with passes available from https://www.leicesterlionstv.com/ .
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Ben Cook, Dan Bewley, Connor Mountain, Connor Bailey.
