LEICESTER have secured their place in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-offs after a 52-38 win over King’s Lynn at the Hydroscand Arena.
The Watling JCB Lions blew the Stars away in an astonishing start to the meeting which saw them go 18 points up after six races, and although the visitors mounted a determined response it was never going to be enough to challenge for a victory.
It means Lions have secured their place in the top four with three matches to spare, and they can now concentrate their efforts on finishing second in the regular table.
Flying Ryan Douglas again led the way at No1, dropping his only point to former skipper Max Fricke in Heat 13, but it was a strong all-round display with Dan Thompson also in double figures as the Lions limited last places during the crucial stages of the meeting.
There was one major stroke of fortune for the Lions and it came in the very first race, which was re-started after Lynn rider Ben Cook fell heading into the first bend, and in the re-run Fricke made a fast start from the outside only to immediately slow with a puncture enabling Douglas and Drew Kemp to go through for a 5-1.
From there it was Leicester all the way with guest Justin Sedgmen making a fast start in Heat 2 whilst Joe Thompson neatly rounded Jordan Jenkins off the second bend for more maximum points, and then Sam Masters and Dan Thompson got the better of Jan Kvech on the first lap of Heat 3 to continue an incredible opening.
The Lions’ gating was of a consistently high standard, and they hit the front again in Heat 4 with Stars skipper Chris Harris splitting Nick Morris and Joe Thompson on the fourth bend – but it was still a 4-2, and it was Leicester ahead again in Heat 5 with Fricke cutting through inside Masters at the end of lap one but being unable to catch the very impressive Dan Thompson.
Another 4-2 followed in Heat 6 with Douglas beating Harris after Jenkins had crashed out on turn two, before the first shared race in the next as Morris blasted to the front on turn two whilst Stars duo Kvech and Cooper Rushen overcame Sedgmen for the minor places.
Cook gave Lynn their first win in a shared Heat 8 and Fricke came into the next race to win as a tactical substitute, but Masters and Dan Thompson prevented any damage by keeping Harris at the back in a 3-3.
Douglas won Heat 10 comfortably in another share of the spoils with Kemp slowing on the first lap, before the Stars collected their only advantage of the meeting in Heat 11 with a 5-1 as Fricke outgated Morris and Cook joined him around the outside.
The remaining races were all shared, as Masters held off the threat of Kvech to win Heat 12, whilst the next race provided plenty of excitement with Douglas, Morris and Harris three abreast at one stage before at the start of lap three Harris clipped the front wheel of Morris bringing both riders down, and the King’s Lynn rider was disqualified.
Fricke inflicted the only defeat of the night on Douglas in the re-run but the Lions’ win was still confirmed, and Heat 14 was also shared as Rushen showed his talent with a strong opening bend to defeat Dan Thompson and Sedgmen.
Douglas had the final word by getting the better of Fricke in Heat 15, making a terrific getaway from gate two, with that race shared as Thompson slowed after an early battle with Cook.
It was a thoroughly convincing Lions performance and one which again underlines their strength at the Hydroscand Arena.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “I’m very happy with the result, and I think at the start of the meeting we knocked the stuffing out of King’s Lynn.
“They were much better in the second half of the meeting. I don’t think we eased off in any way, but we certainly did the damage early doors and it’s good to be in the play-offs again.
“We’ve still got three more meetings to look forward to, to add some more points to our tally, and as we’ve seen throughout the season we’re pretty good at home.
“We’ve had one or two meetings closer than this, but if we ride as well as we can it home it gives us a chance.
“There was some tough racing out there, and we almost take it for granted now with Dougy stepping up as No.1 and getting double figures week in, week out. The rest of the team backed him up and it was a good, solid team performance.”
Lions will look to further extend their home record when they face leaders Belle Vue in what promises to be another terrific meeting on Monday.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2
LEICESTER 52: Ryan Douglas 14, Dan Thompson 10, Nick Morris 8+1, Sam Masters 7+2, Joe Thompson 5+1, Drew Kemp 4+2, Justin Sedgmen 4+1.
KING’S LYNN 38: Max Fricke 13, Ben Cook 7+2, Jan Kvech 6+1, Cooper Rushen 6+1, Chris Harris 4, Jordan Jenkins 2+1, Jody Scott 0.
