IN-FORM reserve Sam Hagon has been unveiled as Leicester’s new Rising Star.
The 19-year-old Essex-based racer will replace Joe Thompson who has struggled for points this season, failing to score in the Lions’ previous two outings.
Thompson will continue to race for the east Midlands side’s National Development League Cubs.
Hagon will make his Leicester debut at Oxford on Monday night, the first of three successive away fixtures, before making his home debut on May 27.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “Speedway should also be about enjoyment and I don’t think it’s enjoyable for Joe at the moment, so the promotion collectively made the decision to make the change.
“He hasn’t scored in the last two home matches and I feel at the moment maybe it’s best for him to concentrate on his Championship and NDL racing.
“I worked with Sam for a short time when I was at Birmingham last season and liked what I saw.
“Looking at where he is now compared to where he was then, he’s made improvement, and I think improvement is the key word.
“I also spoke to (Poole promoter) Matt Ford about him, someone whose opinions I do respect, and he was of the same view.
“I’m not expecting him to come in and score a bundle of points straight away, because we know it’s a very tough league, but for me he’s only going one way.
“He jumped at the chance and is very keen, he’s desperate to race his bike and, fingers crossed, he can get us a couple of points each meeting, that will be his target.”
Hagon is the son of former rider Martin and came through the British Youth system before racing for Mildenhall and Oxford in the NDL, prior to Championship spells with Birmingham and now Poole, and also has an NDL team place at Belle Vue.
He said: “I know it’s a big step up and I’m going straight into two away matches, although I’m quite fortunate that I rode for a season at Oxford and I’m an asset of King’s Lynn so it’s not like I don’t know those tracks.
“I don’t really think I didn’t deserve a spot in the Premiership at the start of the year, and I think it was probably because I ended up with an injury last year, but then I went to Australia and started well with Poole.
“With Leicester you’ve got time to practice there away from race day and time to learn, and you’ve got people there such as Max Fricke, Dougy (Ryan Douglas) and Sam Masters, to learn from.
“It’s going to be a good step up and hopefully I can start scoring points and help them win matches home and away.”
Hagon will have an opportunity to race at his new home when Belle Vue Colts race against the Lion Cubs in the NDL on Sunday May 12.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.