TEAM boss Jim Lynch is adamant Leicester can turn around their troubled season despite blowing an eight-point lead in a 46-44 home defeat to Rye House.
The Lions suffered a third defeat in four home outings despite playing their part in an engaging meeting that was generally tight all the way.
Lynch’s men were four ahead when some stellar team riding saw number one Kim Nilsson help home Erik Riss for the pair’s second maximum of the afternoon in heat six.
Ricky Wells and Chris Harris hit straight back with a 5-1 for the Rockets and Leicester’s advantage gradually eroded as the meeting went on.
Lions could not muster another heat advantage until Danny King, who scored 10-paid-11 riding from number four, won the 14th race to reduce to two points Rye House's lead going into the final showdown.
Top scorer Nilsson took the chequered flag but King could not add to his yield with the 3-3 not enough to pinch a last-gasp yield.
“First and foremost, it was a great meeting,” said Lynch. “I moved Danny King and he did very well and Kim Nilsson was terrific again but the support was not quite there.
“Danny Ayres took a whack a couple of nights ago and you could tell, he was not quite at it. The problem with Lasse Bjerre is that he’s a rider who does not enjoy riding in rough conditions.
“He has to learn that you have to ride the conditions you’re confronted with and while he is young enough to adjust to that, I knew he would have a problem with the track.
“To make too much of these things would be finding excuses, though. Rye House rode really well and deserved their victory.”
On his side’s chances of climbing the table, Lynch said: “I am confident. When you have a run like this and new riders coming in, you have to give the lads two or three weeks to settle down.”
Meanwhile, Leicester’s manager paid tribute to the track staff who worked to get the meeting on, albeit with an hour’s delay, despite worsening conditions.
“I have a tremendous amount of admiration for the track staff because they worked tirelessly for two hours to give us a meeting,” he added,
“Of course, we were disappointed with the result but anyone watching would have appreciated the fact it was a great speedway meeting. Anyone new to the sport would have enjoyed a real cracker.”
LEICESTER 44: Kim Nilsson 12+1, Danny King 10+1, Josh Bates 9, Erik Riss 6+2, Jason Garrity 3+1, Lasse Bjerre 3, Danny Ayres 1.
RYE HOUSE 46: Scott Nicholls 10, Chris Harris 9+2, Ricky Wells 9+1, Ellis Perks 6+2, Edward Kennett 6, Stuart Robson 5, Robert Branford 1.
