LEICESTER have two representatives chasing a place in the British Final on a big afternoon of action at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Sunday (2pm).
Watling JCB Lions regulars Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson take their place in the line-up for the British Semi-Final, which carries six qualifying places for the national showpiece at Belle Vue next month.
The meeting was also supposed to feature Kyle Howarth; however, he aggravated his recent ankle injury when racing for Glasgow on Friday and was signed out after the meeting having been advised to rest for three days, and Lion Cubs racer Freddy Hodder will replace him.
Both Kemp and Thompson are likely to be amongst the contenders to progress in what looks a very open line-up featuring several other riders with recent Lions connections.
Dan Gilkes, Sam Hagon and Craig Cook have all appeared for the club in the Premiership, whilst Sheffield’s Anders Rowe rode for the Lions back in 2022 and has also qualified for next weekend’s Grand Prix Challenge.
Supporters are reminded that the meeting gets underway at 2pm – one hour earlier than usual on a Sunday afternoon due to the football World Cup Final taking place later in the evening.
There are three further changes to the originally declared line-up as Jody Scott replaces Ben Barker, who has yet to return from injury. Meanwhile Will Cairns takes the place of Connor Mountain, who is out with illness, and Vinnie Foord replaces Simon Lambert who crashed out for Redcar on Friday.
Regular Premiership admission prices apply for this 20-heat meeting, with a reminder that season tickets are not valid as it is not a regular league match.
The meeting will also be livestreamed via Lions TV at https://www.leicesterlionstv.com/ .
LINE-UP: Jake Mulford, Jordan Jenkins, Freddy Hodder, Dan Gilkes, Jason Edwards, Jody Scott, Sam Hagon, Ace Pijper, Luke Harrison, Joe Thompson, Craig Cook, Vinnie Foord, Anders Rowe, Will Cairns, Luke Killeen, Drew Kemp. Reserves: Ryan Ingram, Eli Meadows.
