LEICESTER have made a change to their National League team – before a wheel has been turned on their 2019 season!
The Roger Webster Lion Cubs have moved to sign Scotsman Ryan MacDonald after it emerged that Kelsey Dugard had quit the sport.
Dugard suffered a broken collarbone in a crash on press day, and will now not be taking up his team place.
25-year-old MacDonald has a season of experience at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena as, like fellow Lion Cubs Luke Ruddick and Jamie Halder, he rode for Coventry in the National League last season.
Co-promoter Stewart Dickson said: “Ryan is very happy to get a slot with us after it looked like he was going to miss out this season.
“He’s a nice lad, he comes from a good family and the travelling doesn’t put him off at all.
“He also showed last year that he could ride the Leicester track, he had a home average of just under five and I know he was involved in several Heat 2 5-1s for Coventry, so that’s the thinking behind it.
“I’m hearing Kelsey has retired, I haven’t had any official contact from him, but I’ve been told he is no longer doing speedway and I had that confirmed at the weekend.
“Dave (Darcy) asked if he could leave it in my hands to find a suitable replacement, so I’ve done that and we spoke about it at the practice day last Sunday.
“We’re also looking for a day to get the whole of the National League team together again at Leicester soon.”
The Lion Cubs start their season at Plymouth on Friday May 10, with their opening home meeting on Sunday May 12 against Mildenhall.
Meanwhile Lions mascot Max James has become the youngest rider in the club’s history to sign his intent to join on a permanent basis.
The eleven-year-old Leicestershire-based rider competes in the British Youth Championship and impressed in demonstration rides at the Ben Fund Bonanza last month.
Co-promoter Dave Darcy said: “Since he joined the club at the beginning of last year Max has ridden a great deal at Leicester, and during that time I have been most impressed with how well his skill and style of riding has developed.
“We believe that if he continues to show the same level of progress through the different levels of junior competition then there is every chance that he will make the grade as a professional speedway rider.”
