LIONS WIN BRUM FINALE

LEICESTER took the honours in the final-ever meeting at Perry Bar with a rampant 58-32 win over Midlands rivals Birmingham in front of a capacity crowd.

The Lions have an outstanding record at the home of their neighbours, and they showed it again as the Brummies were unable to match the emotion of the occasion with a good team performance.

Heat-leaders Sam Masters (12+2), Ryan Douglas (10+1) and Max Fricke (10+1) each won three races for the Lions, with Masters taking the flag in Heat 15 as the curtain came down on the Second City venue.

The Brummies were unable to post a heat advantage although four of their riders did manage victories, including Keynan Rew (8+2) and Paco Castagna (8+1), the latter winning the penultimate race.

Emotional Birmingham CEO Nigel Tolley said: “Leicester were really tough opposition. They’ve come on leaps and bounds, and they fully deserved their victory.

“They outclassed us pretty much from start to finish and it goes without saying that it was nowhere near the final we result we wanted Brummies to have here at Perry Barr.

“I really am grateful for all the volunteers and everyone involved in Birmingham Speedway. We are a big family, and I think that’s the best way of describing it.”

Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “We know it’s a shame, and you could see beforehand with the crowd coming in that people were upset even talking about it.

“I’m not being blasé, but I’m not overly fussed whether it’s second, third or fourth (in the table) – it will be what it will be.

“We’ll see who we’ve got, and that will be a nice feeling because there are three clubs that are not going to have that.”

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Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN