PREVIEW: LEICESTER v IPSWICH (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

LEICESTER and Ipswich meet in a top-of-the-table clash in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership at the East Midlands venue tonight (Thursday).

The Lions went top with their win over Birmingham last week and retained it when Belle Vue lost at Birmingham on Monday – but the second-placed Witches have a strong record at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.

The home side revert to their regular riding order with Richard Lawson back at No.2, whilst the visitors operate rider replacement for the injured Danny King, Jason Doyle moves to No.3 and Dan Thompson is up in the main body of the team.

Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s a big night for us. It’s been clear since we moved up to the Premiership that, unfortunately, Ipswich like our track, and they really seem to enjoy racing on it.

“There have been some nice comments from them about it, which is always good to hear, but ultimately we want to win, and we want to be beating them!

“From a team perspective we need a seven-rider effort. I know they’ve only got six riders but we need a seven-rider effort for what we’re planning to get. I don’t think having five riders scoring points will be enough for us.”

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Our recent history at Leicester is really good and it is a place we have enjoyed going to over the last few years. All the boys go there with confidence knowing they can have good meetings around there.

“Danny normally goes well at Leicester, and we are missing him, but R/R shouldn’t be a disaster looking at the capabilities of the riders that can take those rides.”

LEICESTER: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
IPSWICH: Emil Sayfutdinov, Danny King R/R, Jason Doyle, Dan Thompson, Adam Ellis, Keynan Rew, Jordan Jenkins.
SCB Referee: Phil Griffin

*LIVE STREAMING: https://www.leicesterlionstv.com/