LEICESTER will welcome back 2022 NDL title winner Max Perry to complete the Lion Cubs’ line-up for next season.
Perry, 17, will be going into his second stint with the club having initially raced as a 15-year-old in his first year, when the Lion Cubs won the league and cup double.
He achieved a highly creditable 5.67 average in that season and then increased it by over two points to 7.75 during 2023, when the Lion Cubs once again topped the league table.
However, disaster struck in the Grand Final at Oxford on the very last night of the season as Perry was involved in a heavy crash, with his injuries requiring a lengthy period of recuperation over the winter, and although he worked hard with a personal trainer to be in peak condition, he suffered for a lack of track time leading into the new campaign.
Having ridden for Edinburgh in the NDL, where he averaged 6.89, as well as having a spell in the Championship with Poole, he has now agreed to make a return to Beaumont Park where he will start the season third in the averages.
Perry also has a Championship place with Glasgow for 2025 and will be racing in the new National Development Trophy competition for a team to be confirmed.
He said: “I’m really happy to be back at Leicester. I wanted to be back in the Lion Cubs team this year but I outdid myself from a spot by doing too well in 2023 unfortunately!
“So when I got the call from Stewart (Dickson) about 2025, it was a no-brainer to accept. It’s going to be fantastic to be working with Stewart, Dave (Howard) and all the staff again.
“Leicester is a fantastically run club and the fans have been really supportive to me this year, so it will be great to see them all again.
“I want to have a consistent score of double figures in the NDL and I have yet to hit a maximum, so it would be great to do that next season for Leicester!
“I also have a team place in the NDT league, so having three team places will massively help with track time.”
Perry’s signing means the Lion Cubs’ line-up for 2025 is now complete as he joins new captain Max James along with Ben Trigger, Sonny Springer, Eli Meadows, Ryan Ingram and Cooper Rushen.
The average age of the team at the start of the season is just over 17, underlining Leicester’s commitment to youth development, and we are sure all supporters will be looking forward to seeing them on track.
