DAN Thompson will be back to take the No.1 race-jacket for Leicester’s Lion Cubs side in the new season.
The 17-year-old was one of the outstanding riders in the National Development League in 2021, with only Leon Flint and Dan Gilkes recording higher averages.
He scored full 15-point maximums in home matches against Mildenhall and Belle Vue, and broke the NDL track record at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena in the final meeting in October.
Thomspon ended the campaign with a hugely impressive figure of 10.17, having scored double figures in all eleven of his appearances for the Lion Cubs – and that, remarkably, almost doubled his 5.50 average from the 2019 campaign.
It had looked likely that he would move out of the NDL for 2022, especially as he now has a squad place with Premiership club Sheffield which could offer him opportunities for top-flight racing.
But the regulations for the new season enable him to continue at this level, and so he therefore lines up along with brother Joe for both the Watling JCB Lions in the Championship and the Lion Cubs in the NDL, meaning both will be able to fully maximise their track time.
Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “It’s great that the adaptation in the NDL rules allows us to have Dan back for a third full season with the Lion Cubs.
“After a great year in 2021, Dan will again be in the top echelon of the NDL averages and leading the Lion Cubs’ efforts in 2022 from the front.
“He’ll be boosted further by his Championship and Premiership racing, as well as challenging for the NDL Individual and Pairs honours too.”
With line-ups for both teams now complete, club bosses are working on fixture arrangements for the new season with a busy schedule of racing on the agenda.
LION CUBS 2022: Dan Thompson 10.17, Joe Thompson (c) 8.52, Connor Coles 6.04, Tom Spencer 5.53, Mickie Simpson 3.62, Vinnie Foord 3.00, Max Perry 3.00. Total 39.88
