LIONS’ CUP CRUISE

LEICESTER had four unbeaten riders in an emphatic 64-26 KO Cup first leg win over local rivals Birmingham.

Heat leaders Richie Worrall (15), Kyle Howarth (14+1) and Nick Morris (11+1) all scored maximums for the rampant Lions, whilst reserve Joe Thompson also went through the card with 10+2.

Skipper Ashley Morris was the Brummies’ only race winner as he took the flag in Heat 14 on his way to nine points.

Thompson said: “It’s great for the team to get such a big win, and it’s such a good achievement for myself to get my first maximum at the Championship level.

“I’ve put in a lot of work in the winter, in the gym especially, and a lot of time spent in the workshop as well with some new engines, and I was getting out of the starts good.”

Birmingham manager Laurence Rogers said: “We battled away, Ash had a good meeting and Claus (Vissing) got better as it went on, but it was always going to be tough coming here without Adam (Ellis).

“I felt James (Pearson) had a good debut, the potential is very much there, and he was very unlucky in the one race with Connor Mountain because they came together going down the straight, and that led to him going into the fence.”

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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON