PREVIEW: Oxford Spires in crunch clash with Leicester

OXS Oxford Spires are looking to haul themselves back into the play-off places in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership when they entertain the Leicester Lions at Oxford Stadium on Monday evening (7.30pm).

There’s also an aggregate bonus point at stake, after Lions won 54-36 in the East Midlands in a televised clash last Monday.

Leicester are currently in the fourth and final play-off place, ahead of Spires only on race points difference, since both clubs have 11 points, although Lions have ridden one more home meeting.

After declaring himself fit, Lewis Kerr returns from injury. He last rode for Spires at Oxford Stadium on April 3, when he suffered a fractured ankle.

Kerr’s return has pushed in-form German Erik Riss back down to the reserve berth at No 6, while Charles Wright will move to No 2 and Kerr will occupy the No 3 berth.

With the return of Kerr, Craig Cook’s 28-days as an injury replacement have expired, and he was immediately snapped up by Leicester and he made his debut for Lions in a cup match at Ipswich last Thursday.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “Our main aim against Leicester will be to make sure that we win the meeting. It’s too early to be looking at the league table in too much detail, but at the same time, we know it’s important to beat them.

“That’s your bread and butter in any case – to win your home meetings.

“We will also go into the meeting seeking the aggregate bonus point. I’m not naïve and I realise that overturning 18 points at this level is going to be tough, but if the opportunity comes to grab that extra point, we’ll take it.

“We’ve had some highly exciting meetings at Oxford this season featuring the Spires, which have been a great advert for our sport, and this is highly likely to another enthralling meeting. We saw how well Max Fricke did in the Grand Prix in the Czech Republic on Saturday and all our boys will want to be the first to lower his colours.”

Tickets are already on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Admission is available at the early bird price of £22 for all adults, which increases to £24 on Race Day. All under-16s go free. A reminder that Oxford Speedway is online ticket sales only – tickets remain on sale on the website until the start-time of the meeting.

Oxford vs Leicester was initially rained off on May 6. Please note that – unless you requested a refund – your ticket has automatically transferred to this new date.

Teams:

OXS Oxford Spires: Rohan Tungate, Charles Wright, Lewis Kerr, Maciej Janowski, Chris Harris (C), Erik Riss, Ashton Boughen (RS).

Watling JCB Leicester Lions: Max Fricke (C), Richard Lawson, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Sam Masters, Craig Cook, Sam Hagon (RS).

PHOTO: Action from the exciting Oxford Spires v Belle Vue meeting (pic: Steve Edmunds)