LEICESTER’S 40-32 win over Redcar at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena came at a further cost after an horrific Heat 3 crash.
The Watling JCB Lions are now ten points clear at the top of the Championship after the match with the Bears was curtailed after Heat 12 with the 10.30pm curfew reached.
The result does stand but the main concern was over Lions star Josh Bates and Redcar guest Broc Nicol who both required a trip to hospital after the accident.
Bates was at the back in the race but as he took speed into turn three, he clipped Nicol’s rear wheel and both riders were thrown from their machines.
After attention on-track Bates was able to walk back to the pits whilst Nicol was assisted into the ambulance, and a lengthy delay to the meeting followed.
Initial indications are that Bates looks to have escaped serious damage with Nicol’s injuries to be further assessed.
The incident left the Bears in a depleted state as they were already operating rider-replacement for the injured Tom Bacon, but they kept the Lions honest with an outstanding display from Charles Wright and a battling effort from reserve Nathan Greaves.
There was nearly further carnage in Heat 5 when Ellis Perks lifted on turn two, forcing team-mate Ryan Douglas into swift avoiding action – but Perks recovered to record the only 5-1 of the evening with skipper Scott Nicholls, who cleverly worked his way through the traffic, in Heat 6.
Youngster Jason Edwards impressed by beating Jack Smith in the reserves’ race and so nearly passed him on the line in Heat 7, before a dramatic Heat 9 put the Lions six points up.
Ryan Douglas led the race with Connor Mountain superbly getting the better of Michael Palm Toft, before Smith and Douglas then fell on successive laps with Douglas remounting for third place.
An excellent Heat 11 saw Wright get the better of Lions guest Rory Schlein in a high-speed battle up-front whilst Mountain used the outside to salvage third place from Greaves.
And in the final race possible before the curfew, Douglas dominated Heat 12 whilst Mountain battled Greaves again, and having then lost third place to Ulrich Ostergaard he looked set to re-pass both riders off the final bend – although second place was awarded to Greaves, with Mountain’s third meaning the Bears missed out on a league point.
Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was one of those nights and we got the win, which was important, but our thoughts are with Josh and Broc.
“I think Josh is relatively okay but Broc got a very sore one and we wish him all the best especially as he’s such a nice lad.
“There was still some very good racing out there, and Connor was in the thick of it. He got his mojo back and I don’t know how he never got second place in his last ride, I think everyone in the stadium saw it apart from the referee!”
Leicester Speedway would like to thank all supporters for their patience during the unavoidable delay to Saturday’s meeting.
CHAMPIONSHIP
LEICESTER 40: Connor Mountain 9+1, Ryan Douglas 9, Rory Schlein 8, Ellis Perks 7+1, Scott Nicholls 6+1, Jason Edwards 1, Josh Bates 0.
REDCAR 32: Charles Wright 12, Nathan Greaves 9+1, Ulrich Ostergaard 5+1, Jack Smith 4+1, Michael Palm Toft 2, Broc Nicol 0, Tom Bacon r/r.
Abandoned after Heat 12 (curfew) – Result stands
*LIONS head to Eastbourne on Sunday in the KO Cup (3.30pm) but are waiting to confirm their team plans due to their injuries and a busy fixture schedule elsewhere.
They had booked Michael Palm Toft who subsequently withdrew due to a broken frame. An update will be provided when possible.
