LEICESTER Lion Cubs are set for a busy weekend with important meetings in two competitions as they continue their bid for honours this season.
The Lion Cubs host Workington at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Saturday (7pm) and are in a healthy position with a 16-point lead after an excellent result at Northside in the first leg last month.
So the return fixture is all about completing the job, but that is unlikely to be a straightforward matter against a full-strength Comets side packed with plenty of young talent.
British Under-21 Champion Connor Bailey leads the visitors and is set for a big clash with Cubs captain Dan Thompson, whilst the likes of Luke Harrison, Ace Pijper and Sam McGurk have all made good progress this year.
The Lion Cubs are still without regular skipper Joe Thompson due to a broken collarbone and Tom Spencer with his arm injury, with the weekend action coming just too soon.
Spencer hopes to return for the trip to Berwick on August 12, but having dropped to reserve due to the excellent form of Max James, the Cubs must go to the list of ‘unattached’ riders and they once again bring in Kai Ward, with rider replacement the only option for Thompson.
After Saturday’s home clash the Lion Cubs travel to Mildenhall for a big meeting in the National Development League on Sunday (4pm start).
It will be the first clash of the season between the clubs who contested last year’s Finals, with the Cubs coming out on top on those occasions.
The Fen Tigers top the 2023 table on 15 points, but with the top five covered by just three points a tight battle for the top two looks certain, and the third-placed Cubs are just a point behind with a match in hand.
They have booked Sam Woods to guest for Spencer at West Row, with the revised riding order this weekend seeing James partnered with Max Perry in a hugely exciting teenage combination, with the in-form Ashton Boughen continuing at No.2.
Cubs manager Dave Howard said: “Obviously this weekend we will be giving it everything on Saturday at home to Workington to protect the 16-point lead, and we have to battle to achieve our aim of getting to the Cup Final.
“Then on Sunday it will be a tough challenge away at Mildenhall who are the current NDL leaders, but again we will be giving it everything to battle as close as possible to put us in a good position to pick up the aggregate point when we race them at home later in the season.”
LEICESTER: Dan Thompson, Ashton Boughen, Max Perry, Max James, Joe Thompson r/r, Vinnie Foord, Kai Ward.
WORKINGTON: Connor Bailey, Sam McGurk, Luke Harrison, Luke Crang, Ace Pijper, Elliot Kelly, Harry McGurk.
MILDENHALL: Alfie Bowtell, Arran Butcher, Ben Trigger, George Congreve, Lee Complin, William Richardson, Josh Warren.
LEICESTER: Dan Thompson, Ashton Boughen, Max Perry, Max James, Joe Thompson r/r, Vinnie Foord, Sam Woods.
