LEICESTER resume their chase for a play-off place when they host King’s Lynn at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions are currently fifth in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, one point behind Oxford with a match in hand on the Spires.
And with the season approaching the halfway stage, now is the time to find the consistency which has been the main issue so far in 2024.
Lions performed strongly to defeat Oxford at home in their last home outing, and a repeat performance is required against the Stars who are bottom of the table – but that doesn’t tell the full story of Lynn’s season.
The East Anglian outfit were very impressive in their 50-40 KO Cup win over Sheffield last week, and whilst their exciting new signing Jan Kvech isn’t ready to make his debut this week, there are still two interesting additions to the visitors’ line-up.
With Tobiasz Musielak currently absent from UK racing, the Stars have brought in British Grand Prix Wild Card Tom Brennan to guest at No.1.
And at reserve, with Michael Palm Toft out injured, Lynn have called upon Drew Kemp, the rider recently released by the Lions, to step in against his former club.
Leicester track their established top five in what has become their most familiar riding order for home matches, whilst Craig Cook makes his home debut at No.6.
The club will also be welcoming back Sam Hagon in his first home meeting since clinching the British Under-21 title at Glasgow earlier this month.
It’s the Lions’ only senior home fixture scheduled for June, and manager Stewart Dickson is determined to see his side get the result they need.
He said: “We’ve had encouraging signs, even at Oxford where we thought we should have stolen it, and I do still feel there’s more to come.
“Collectively we need to find that little ten per cent more, and whilst I’m sure most managers will say that’s what they’re looking for, I’m convinced we are capable of finding it. I don’t want us to be missing out on the play-offs again this year.
“The Oxford match is in the past now, that’s gone and we can’t change it, but what we need to make sure is that we don’t slip up at home, and that’s what we’ll be focused on for Thursday.”
Any supporters unable to make it to the track on Thursday should note the meeting will be live streamed on Lions TV – passes are available from https://www.leicesterlionstv.com .
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Craig Cook, Sam Hagon.
KING’S LYNN: Tom Brennan, Patryk Wojdylo, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Benjamin Basso, Nicolai Klindt, Drew Kemp, Anders Rowe.
