It was an encouraging performance from the Leicester Elliott sponsored Lions in their League Cup fixture away to the Ipswich Witches yesterday. With four heats remaining just 5 points separated the two teams but the home side just had the edge to finish the match winners by 53 points to 40.
In the early stages the track conditions suited the home riders more than the Leicester team who dropped points when in good scoring positions. The Lions gained their first advantage in heat 4 when Magnus Karlsson overtook the Ipswich pairing and Jan Graversen finished third. Karlsson was at the centre of Leicester’s second success two races later when he gained double points through a tactical ride which pulled Leicester back into the meeting.
By heat 7 the Lions had reduced the Witches lead when Kauko Nieminen and Jari Mäkinen finished first and third. The same pairing gained maximum points in their next appearance three races later and the possibility of at least a bonus point was on the cards. Hopes were dashed though when Ipswich bounced back with maximum points in two of the last five races to leave the Lions empty handed against the team that currently sits at the top of the League Cup table.
Ipswich 53: Leigh Lanham 7 points plus 1 bonus, Kevin Doolan 15+2, Dakota North 14+2, Mathieu Trésarrieu 4, Cameron Heeps 3+2 and Rohan Tungate 10+3
Leicester 40: Lasse Bjerre 8 points plus 1 bonus, Simon Lambert 2, Kauko Nieminen 7, Jari Mäkinen 5+1, Magnus Karlsson 15, Jan Graversen 1 and Kyle Hughes 2+1
