LEICESTER will face Belle Vue in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final.
The Aces took out defending champions Sheffield in a tense semi-final this week, which was decided in the penultimate race of the second leg on Thursday.
The first leg of the Grand Final will take place in Manchester this coming Monday (September 23), and the title will be decided in the return fixture at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday September 26.
Full team news will follow this weekend, but the Lions can confirm Ryan Douglas will be back after missing the semi-final win over Ipswich with an arm injury, and Lewis Kerr will continue to deputise for the injured Craig Cook.
Belle Vue seem likely to be without Ben Cook after a heavy crash at Owlerton on Thursday, and we send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s exciting for the club to have the second leg at home, but the first task is to go to Belle Vue on Monday and make sure we stay in the tie.
“They did a good job at Sheffield, especially with Brady Kurtz’s ride in Heat 13, and we know they’re going to be tough opposition whatever the situation with Ben Cook.
“For ourselves, Dougy is definitely riding and he’ll be getting a practice this weekend just so he’s back on a bike before the big meeting on Monday.
“I spoke to Craig today and he’s still in pain, so although he wishes he could ride he has to be sensible, which I fully understand and Lewi will come in for both legs.
“In 2019 we won the Championship at Glasgow because it had been rained off there first of all, so we ended up going back there for the second leg, and then in the 2022 Final we had to race our home leg at King’s Lynn.
“So from that perspective it’s pleasing to be at home in the second leg – but for now, it’s all focus on Monday. We’ll worry about Thursday after Monday night.”
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL DATES
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30
