LEICESTER completed their side in 2025 by snapping up Aussie pair Sam Masters and Ryan Douglas to remain at Beaumont Park.
The hugely-popular Down Under duo helped the Lions produce, arguably, their best-ever top flight season by reaching the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final.
Now team boss Stewart Dickson wants them to kick on further in 2025.
Dicko said: “Sam is very consistent, and he wins big races.
“I think he had a slow start to the season, but he then picked up his form, and quite often he was asked to go with Max (Fricke) in Heat 15 up against some very good riders.
“He delivered more often than not and I’m sure the highlight of this season would have been the two Heat 15 5-1s in the play-off semi-final against Ipswich.
“I know people said he had a big home track advantage at Monmore Green and his average could only go one way, but he actually put his average up when he came to Leicester which shows he’s still very capable of doing a heat-leader job for us.”
Douglas was a former title winner with the Lions at second tier level and will get a testimonial in 2025.
Dickson added: “Ryan is another good rider to work with, going back to when he was here before in the Championship, and although others might have had a nibble for him he wanted to come back, which shows you he’s happy here.
“He got landed with the No.5 racejacket for most of last season and I think he did very well. In Heat 13 you tend to be on the outside against three very good riders and it can be tough, but he won races for us home and away
“I think there’s still more in Ryan, he should be aiming to get an eight-point average next season, and there’s no reason why he can’t do it.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.