CONNOR Mountain urged league leaders Leicester to keep calm and carry on after another eye-catching result – a 48-42 victory at fancied Somerset.
The Watling JCB Lions seized control from the off at the Oak Tree Arena, dominating from the gate on what proved to be a tricky track to pass on.
Ryan Douglas led the way for Leicester and was involved in a stellar team ride with Josh Bates in heat 10, the duo holding off Rory Schlein for a 5-1 that ended Somerset’s fightback from eight points down to within two.
A meeting that Lions led from heat one was won in the penultimate race when Douglas forced his way up the inside and had too much pace to be challenged.
His splitting of heavy hitters Chris Harris – who racked up 16 from six rides for the Rebels charge – and Rory Schlein in heat 15 was not quite enough to scoop the extra point the visitors warranted.
But on the back of a third win in five away meetings and a 100 per cent home record, Mountain admits the team is beginning to feel unstoppable.
“Hopefully no one will stop us, that’s the plan,” said Mountain.
“We are going well and can only keep doing what we have been.
“We came in under the radar at the start of the season but now we definitely have targets on our backs.
“Coming away with points on the road is always good, we were really close but just missed out on all four points at the end there. Still, it was great to get another away win.
“I struggled a little bit with the set up in my first race but won my second and felt really good throughout the match.
“The set-up was not quite there in the last race but I was pretty happy to come away with paid-eight away from home, it was a solid night’s work.”
Some remedial work was carried out on turn three during the meeting but Mountain said the track had not been a problem.
“When we walked the track it looked really good and I have always enjoyed it at Somerset,” he added.
“There was a rut going into turn three but overall it was pretty consistent, maybe a bit on the slick side so it was hard to pass in the end. It was still a good race track.
“Getting the set up right was crucial, I was just a little bit off in my first and last races but in the flow of the meeting I felt really good out there.”
CHAMPIONSHIP
SOMERSET 42: Chris Harris 16, Rory Schlein 6+1, Nico Covatti 5+1, Todd Kurtz 5, Anders Rowe 5, Valentin Grobauer 3, Henry Atkins 2.
LEICESTER 48: Ryan Douglas 11, Josh Bates 9+2, Ellis Perks 8+1, Scott Nicholls 7+1, Connor Mountain 6+2, Richie Worrall 5, Jack Thomas 2.
Championship points: Somerset 0 Leicester 3.
Picture: TONY HARTMAN
