LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson admitted his side overcame “teething problems” to deliver a vital opening win.
The Lions held off a spirited challenge from King’s Lynn to open their season with a 47-42 home victory over the Stars. They bounced back after conceding a controversial 0-5 in heat 2 when both Lions riders Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson were excluded, regaining the lead with a 5-1 in the next race.
The Lions maintained a narrow advantage throughout but only made things safe with a 4-2 from impressive debutant Luke Becker (11+2) and Kemp in Heat 14. Richard Lawson led the Lions with 11 points whilst Vadim Tarasenko top-scored with 10+1 for the Stars, including a stunning ride to pass both Max Fricke and Ryan Douglas in Heat 13.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “We won by five points and I would have taken that before the start. A home match on the first night is always a potential banana skin.
“There were one or two difficult moments, King’s Lynn were coming back into it and I was never quite sure we were going to win.
“There were some good performances and one or two teething problems, but it’s early days. It’s a win, and that’s what we wanted.”
Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “We knew going into Heat 15 that gate four was the best, and Tarasenko had ridden a blinder in Heat 13 so at the very least I was expecting a 3-3, and so it proved
“To take it back to King’s Lynn just five points adrift means we stand a very good chance of getting the aggregate point, and they will be crucial this year. Getting three points out of each set of home and away matches is going to get us to the play-offs.
“It’s a good first meeting for us, there were a few gremlins from the boys but overall I’m pleased.”
The sides meet again in Norfolk on Thursday night.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.