LEICESTER’S bid to finish 2017 with a flourish is set to be boosted by the return of Kyle Newman when Somerset visit Beaumont Park on Saturday (7.30).
Team boss Jim Lynch confirmed Newman had signalled his intent to ride through the pain barrier as the Watling JCB Lions track all six fit riders against the Rebels.
Fresh from a shock 48-42 win at title-chasing Belle Vue, that team news is a big boost according to Lynch who will fill the number four slot with rider replacement.
“I spoke to Kyle on Friday afternoon and he was confident of being back,” he said. “Apart from the rider replacement for Pawel we are at full strength and I have said so many times how important that is to us.
“It would be nice to finish on a high. We have two tough away trips to come but if we can get wins in our two home matches, who knows what might happen?
“Rye House and Swindon will be gunning for the points for obvious reasons but the big starting point for us is putting on a display, especially at home.
“This is for the fans, this is what we promised them. We wanted to be a better team in the second half of the season and the biggest stumbling block to that has been us being deprived of our first-choice team.
“The Belle Vue result makes me more confident about the match against Somerset because if we can turn in that sort of display, we have nothing to fear against anyone.”
But while a win would move Leicester to within two points of second-bottom King’s Lynn, the man in the pits still believes avoiding the wooden spoon will be a tall order.
“We have four meetings to go but points in the bag could prove important,” said Lynch.
“We have to be practical about it. There is only one team that can throw it away and I think Buster (Keith Chapman, King’s Lynn promoter) and his team will fight to the end.”
There are two changes for the Rebels with Michael Palm Toft and Adam Ellis standing in for Richard Lawson (Championship commitments) and Jake Allen (injured).
Lions will also be holding a collection for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund at the meeting, while the usual Meet the Rider gathering will take place with Erik Riss.
LEICESTER: Kim Nilsson, Erik Riss, Lasse Bjerre, R/R for Pawel Przedpelksi, Danny King, Josh Bates, Kyle Newman.
SOMERSET: Josh Grajczonek, Cameron Heeps, Charles Wright, Patrick Hougaard, Michael Palm Toft, Adam Ellis, Lewis Kerr.
