FOXES v LEICESTER, PREVIEW
NORTHAMPTON Foxes will have two riders making their debuts when they open their home league campaign against Leicester at the Shaleway on Thursday (7.30pm).
New signing Jonas Jeppesen and fellow Dane Niels-Kristian Iversen both make their first appearances for the Foxes as they bid to put points on the board in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
Jeppesen has been recruited to bring the Foxes back to a full line-up following the broken ankle sustained by Matej Zagar at Belle Vue earlier this month, and his form in the UK this season for second-tier Workington has been very impressive.
Meanwhile Iversen was declared by the Foxes way back in March but is yet to appear for the club having been advised not to travel to the UK as he recovered from a punctured lung sustained in Nicolai KIindt’s Testimonial meeting.
Jeppesen and Iversen join forces in a new-look middle-order for the home side, whilst the prolific Kye Thomson lines up at reserve once again having scored a remarkable 18+1 last time out against King’s Lynn.
The Foxes bring in double British Under-21 Champion Sam Hagon to guest in their Rising Star berth as Luke Harrison is away captaining Great Britain in the FIM Speedway of Nations 2 in Prague tomorrow.
Leicester make one change from the team which won the reverse fixture on Bank Holiday Monday, with Dan Thompson suffering a broken collarbone in that meeting.
The Lions, who track one of the sport’s in-form riders in Ryan Douglas at No.1, have called up Lewis Kerr to guest for Thompson which means they have two riders – Kerr and Kyle Howarth – who have already raced at the Shaleway this season.
Northampton manager Chris Adams said: “It feels good in camp that apart from our Rising Star change we are now our complete team and can focus on moving forward this year.
“It’s been a tough old start for the guys, who have battled hard so far mostly on the away road, but I’m hoping they get dialled in early and start building on making our home circuit somewhat of an advantage to riding at home.
“Everything takes time and now we are a full side again we just need a bit of patience and time to get settled. Results will come our way, and I’m hoping this meeting will be the start of that.”
Advance tickets are available as usual from https://northampton-speedway.com/ticket-office with a reminder that tickets can be purchased on the night by cash or card. Advance tickets will offer faster entry to the stadium.
Meanwhile the club have launched their live streaming service which will be operational from this fixture, and passes can be booked from https://www.northamptonfoxestv.com/ .
NORTHAMPTON: Jaimon Lidsey, Troy Batchelor, Jonas Jeppesen, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Nicolai Klindt, Kye Thomson, Sam Hagon.
LEICESTER: Ryan Douglas, Lewis Kerr, Nick Morris, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Drew Kemp, Dan Gilkes.