LEICESTER exited the Premiership Knockout Cup on Monday after being beaten by Ipswich.
The Watling JCB Lions lost 47-43 at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park, resulting in a 95-85 aggregate defeat.
The hosts managed just four race wins on a night dominated by Ipswich’s heat-leader trio of Jason Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov and Danny King who scored 35 of the visitors’ 47 points.
Leicester got off to a bright start with a 4-2 with Max Fricke riding a brilliant opening couple of bends to gain an advantage over former Lion Doyle.
The visitors struck a 5-1 in the battle of the reserves - but there was an instant response from the hosts in Heat Three.
Richard Lawson got himself out in front while Chris Harris produced a stunning ride to go from fourth to second.
Sayfutdinov, who had never set sight on the Leicester track before the night, picked up his first of four race wins in Heat Four - and set a new track record in the process with a time of 58.79.
That began a run of eight straight race wins for the visitors before a 4-2 from Lawson and reserve switch Jake Allen in Heat 12 saw them draw level on the night.
But when Fricke and Nick Morris conceded a 5-1 to Sayfutdinov and Doyle in Heat 13, the aggregate result was put beyond doubt.
Watling JCB Lions team boss Stewart Dickson said: “First of all credit to Ipswich, they rode very well.
“Any signs that Emil Sayfutdinov would maybe take a couple of races to figure out the Leicester track were quickly blown away when he got the track record in heat number four.
“We threw away a couple of points but I think the better team went through to the next round.
“From our point of view, we’re disappointed to lose at home - something we’ve not been used to since I came here.
“But you could see the class of Jason Doyle and Emil Sayfutdinov and Danny King had a good night as well.
“They were a wee bit sharper out of the starts than us most of the evening and finding the pass against these big boys when they make the gate was tough.
“We came up a little bit short - now we need to dust ourselves down and get ready for Belle Vue.”
The Watling JCB Lions are back at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park this Thursday (April 20, 7.30) when reigning Premiership Champions Belle Vue come to town.
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP , QF, 2nd leg
LEICESTER 43: Richard Lawson 10+1, Chris Harris 8+2, Justin Sedgmen 7, Max Fricke 5+1, Nick Morris 5+1, Dan Thompson 4+2, Jake Allen 4+1.
IPSWICH 47: Jason Doyle 12+2, Emil Sayfutdinov 12, Danny King 11, Keynan Rew 5, Danyon Hume 5, Joe Thompson 2+1, Erik Riss R/R.
Ipswich win 95-85 on aggregate.
