LEICESTER launch the new speedway season with a home clash against local rivals Birmingham at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday (7pm).
The Watling JCB Lions will be looking to build up a decent lead in the first leg of the KO Cup tie, with the return scheduled for Perry Barr a week on Wednesday (April 6).
There are three new faces for the Lions this season, although two of those are in fact returning riders from the 2019 title-winning campaign with Richie Worrall and Connor Mountain both playing their part in that success.
Anders Rowe makes his full debut for the club and lines up at reserve with Joe Thompson, whilst skipper Kyle Howarth, No.1 Nick Morris and Thompson’s twin brother Dan are the others to be back from last year.
Birmingham are under new ownership in 2022 with their future having been in significant doubt until a locally led consortium took charge before Christmas.
The Brummies only have two riders remaining from last season but have signified their ambitions with the recent captures of heat-leaders Claus Vissing and British Champion Adam Ellis, to go with former Lions racer Josh Auty at the top of the team.
Ellis, however, is unavailable on Saturday, and with no official guest facility permitted the Brummies have to declare another rider without a Championship place into that position, with that spot going to Ben Morley.
The visitors also hand a UK debut to highly rated 16-year-old Australian James Pearson.
Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “Everybody gets excited about a new season, and I’m no different with that.
“We’re really looking forward to getting started, and having had good weather all week it’s been nice to be able to plan with certainty.
“Birmingham are our closest rivals, so we certainly didn’t want to lose them over the winter. I wish them a good season, they seem to be doing things right – but obviously as Leicester team manager, my job is to make sure we get progression to the next round of the Cup!”
All facilities at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena are open as normal, and the new-look match programme will be available from sellers priced at £3.
LEICESTER: Nick Morris, Connor Mountain, Kyle Howarth, Dan Thompson, Richie Worrall, Anders Rowe, Joe Thompson.
BIRMINGHAM: Claus Vissing, James Shanes, Stefan Nielsen, Ashley Morris, Josh Auty, Ben Morley, James Pearson.
