LION CUBS COMPLETE

LEICESTER will defend the NDL title with five of the riders who took them to a league and KO Cup double this year.

Dan and Joe Thompson, Max Perry, Tom Spencer and Vinnie Foord have all re-signed for the Lion Cubs, and they will be joined by former club mascot Max James who had some outings as No.8 in the closing stages of the season.

And the Cubs have also won the race for 15-year-old talent Ashton Boughen, who raced against them in the play-offs and impressed at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena.

Team boss Dave Howard said: “After our ‘Treble’ success in 2022 (including the NDL Pairs) and the team spirit and togetherness that was such a big feature of the team, it is great to have Dan, Joe, Max Perry, Tom and Vinnie back lining up for the Lion Cubs in 2023.

“Max James showed us the great talent he has in his first NDL rides in the league and KO Cup Finals, and we saw ourselves the talent and potential that Ashton has with his scores in his meetings against us this year for Oxford and Mildenhall.

“So I am delighted with our Lion Cubs seven for 2023, when we will be giving everything we have to be challenging hard for silverware once again.”