LEICESTER Lion Cubs captain Joe Thompson was the winner of an entertaining NL Riders Development Series individual event at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Sunday.
Thompson, who has been in good form in his recent league meetings at Championship level, raced to a 15-point maximum on his home NDL track to finish two points clear of his nearest rivals.
The key clash came in Heat 15 when Thompson and current Watling JCB Lions Rising Star Sam Hagon were unbeaten going into the race with three wins apiece.
But whilst Thompson made a great start from gate two, Hagon found himself boxed in at the back and was eventually disqualified for bringing down Tom Spencer as he looked to work his way through.
Thompson duly completed an unbeaten display with victory in Heat 19 over fellow Lion Cubs star Vinnie Foord, who rode superbly to score 13.
Foord won three of his five races but also picked up a painful shoulder knock in Heat 13 which threw up a superb battle between himself, Sonny Springer and Willian Cairns.
Unfortunately Springer and Foord collided on the last bend, and with Springer disqualified it also kept Cairns in contention.
He moved on to 13 points with a win in Heat 17 ahead of Hagon, who again had to come through from the back, and that left Foord and Cairns tied on points for second place.
Their run-off was an excellent spectacle with Foord making the start but Cairns forcing his way through on the inside on turns three and four to take the runners-up spot overall.
Hagon finished just off the rostrum with 11 points whilst Max Perry, Connor Coles and Matt Marson all picked up nine – although Coles would have had more but for fall when leading Heat 2.
Thompson said: “I’m enjoying my racing at the moment and I’ve got a great team around me in the pits, which makes life much easier for me.
“It’s great to get a 15-point maximum. There was a lot of good talent here today, but I kept it going throughout the meeting and I’m really pleased.”
RESULT: Joe Thompson 15, William Cairns 13 (after run-off), Vinnie Foord 13, Sam Hagon 11, Max Perry 9, Connor Coles 9, Matt Marson 9, Jody Scott 8, Max James 8, Tom Spencer 5, Mickie Simpson 5, Senna Summers 4, Sonny Springer 3, Danny Phillips 3, Stene Pijper 2, Kai Ward 2, Jack Crewe (res) 0, Joe Crewe (res) 0.
Photo credit: STEVE DIXON
