LEICESTER’S newest team take to the track for the first time when the Fox Cubs visit Birmingham in the National Development Trophy on Monday (7.30pm).
The NDT is a new competition, running parallel with the League in order to give more racing opportunities to young British riders.
Leicester, who are defending NDL champions with the Lion Cubs, announced the formation of their new team and their entry into the NDT shortly after Christmas to bring the competition back up to five clubs.
It meant they were later than the other competing sides – Birmingham, Kent, King’s Lynn and Plymouth – in terms of building the team, but the septet led by 15-year-old Will Cairns still fits in perfectly with the club’s ethos for rider development.
Sonny Springer is the only rider who will race for Leicester in both the NDL and NDT, and the trip to Perry Barr sees the Fox Cubs face a number of riders with familiar connections.
Tom Spencer, Arran Butcher and Max James were all part of the Lion Cubs’ title winning NDL team last season, with James skippering Leicester in that competition this year, and the Bulls also include Eli Meadows who has an NDL spot with Leicester.
Co-promoter Jen Crossland, who will manage the team at Perry Barr, said: “It’s very early in the season and this will be the first competitive racing of the year for the majority of riders in the meeting.
“There’s certainly no pressure on our riders, we want them to go out there and enjoy it, and work together as a team as we’ve always done at Leicester.
“This is all about rider development and giving them the track time they need to progress, and we’re looking forward to going up against several riders on the Birmingham team who we know very well!”
BIRMINGHAM: Tom Spencer, Arran Butcher, Sam McGurk, Darryl Ritchings, Max James, Senna Summers, Eli Meadows.
LEICESTER: Will Cairns, Sonny Springer, Stene Pijper, Mason Watson, Ace Pijper, Caydin Martin, Max Broadhurst.
