LEICESTER return to Premiership action with reigning champions Belle Vue the next visitors to the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Watling JCB Lions have no time to dwell on their KO Cup exit at the hands of Ipswich earlier in the week, as they look to make it two wins out of two in the league.
But the Aces are likely to provide a stern test with a side very much tipped as title contenders once again, and having just begun to find their form after a slow start to the season.
The Manchester side suffered home and away defeats to Sheffield in their opening fixtures and then a heavy KO Cup defeat at Wolverhampton, but they hit have hit back with away wins at both Ipswich and Peterborough in the last week.
Mark Lemon’s side scored 55 points at the Showground on Monday, always one of their favourite venues, and they are led by British Champion and GP star Dan Bewley, who has made a welcome return to the Premiership this season.
Aces skipper Brady Kurtz misses the meeting due to a rearranged fixture in Poland, but Lemon has moved to book former Lions favourite Ryan Douglas, who spent two seasons with the club in 2019 and 2021, to come in as a guest.
The Lions are at full strength and unchanged in riding order from the Ipswich match, and will look for a consistent all-round display to get the better of one of the league’s strongest sides.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “We go into the meeting looking for a reaction to losing at home on Monday, and we need a response in the same way that Belle Vue have had themselves lately.
“I do feel that we have seven riders who can win our home matches, which is what I said from the start of the season we need to concentrate on, and this is a chance to put things right.
“Collectively we all need to up our game ready for this one, we know we’ve got the riders here to do it, and so it’s up to us to perform and come out with all guns blazing.”
Supporters are remined that gates open at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park at 6pm, with the meeting getting underway at 7.30pm.
LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Justin Sedgmen, Richard Lawson, Chris Harris, Nick Morris, Jake Allen, Dan Thompson.
BELLE VUE: Dan Bewley, Norick Blodorn, Tom Brennan, Charles Wright, Ryan Douglas, Jaimon Lidsey, Jake Mulford.
