Report
Hydroscand Arena1 The Lions, Leicester, LE4 1DZ
Details
| Date | Tapes Up | Competition | Season | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Premiership KO Cup, Quarter-Final, 2nd Leg | 2025 | Leicester win 103-77 on aggregate |
Report
LEICESTER were taken to a last-heat decider by much-improved Birmingham in the second leg of their KO Cup quarter-final at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
The Lions were always set to progress on aggregate after a big win in the West Midlands earlier in the week, but at home the scoreline was just 46-44 in their favour with Max Fricke and Sam Masters combining to squeeze out Michael Jepsen Jensen for a 3-3 in Heat 15.
But the big turning point had come two races earlier when the previously unbeaten Matej Zagar was timed out for the Brummies after mechanical trouble, with Fricke and Masters then taking a 5-1 over Tobiasz Musielak.
Masters top-scored with 10 and Fricke added 9+2 as the Lions set up a semi-final clash with Sheffield, but the visiting heat leaders gave them plenty to think about as Musielak scored 12, Jepsen Jensen picked up 10 and Zagar nine before his bike problem.
Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was a bit too close for comfort, but it was a very good meeting and it takes two teams to tango.
“I had a feeling it would be a lot more competitive than it was on Monday night, I’m not saying that was a freak result because we rode very well, but if we’d lost like that at home we would have been hurting and we would have wanted to come back for the second leg and show we were a better team.
“So fair play to them, but at the end of the day we got the win and I think that was important. I know we’re through on aggregate but it’s always pleasing to win on the night, and there was some really good racing.”
Musielak said: “We are all new at Birmingham so it was difficult to catch the right set-up (on Monday), actually we didn’t catch anything.
“Tonight was much better and we were leading the way for almost the whole meeting.
“We were disappointed to lose the lead after Heat 13 – but this is speedway. We’ve shown that we can really fight with the other guys though and that’s how it should be.”
LEICESTER 46: Sam Masters 10, Max Fricke 9+2, Drew Kemp 7+2, Luke Becker 7+1, Kyle Howarth 6+3, Ryan Douglas 6, Sam Hagon 1+1.
BIRMINGHAM 44: Tobiasz Musielak 12, Michael Jepsen Jensen 10, Matej Zagar 9, Keynan Rew 7+3, Jason Edwards 2+2, Jonas Jeppesen 2, Antti Vuolas 2.
Leicester win 103-77 on aggregate
OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here
Photo credit: RICHARD BOETTCHER