Leicester Lions 2025

[IainB]

12 minutes ago, bigcatdiary said:

Pre Covid he was quite a rider, post Covid he isn’t 

Maybe he has long Covid like Freddie Lindgren?

2020 World Bronze

2021 World 4th

2022 World 4th

2023 World Silver

2024 World Bronze

😂

[IainB]

18 minutes ago, bigcatdiary said:

His GSA all Premiership

Great stats btw 👍

[Pinny]

30 minutes ago, bigcatdiary said:

Pre Covid he was quite a rider, post Covid he isn’t 

His GSA all Premiership

2011 - 4.81

2012 - 5.52

2013 - 7.40

2014 - 6.21

2015 - 7.29

2016 - 7.37

2017 - 8.45

2018 - 7.73

2019 - 7.78

2021 - 6.98

2022 - 5.05

2023 - 4.39

2024 - 4.97

Maybe he went down the route of many others and spent his lockdown partying and hasn't shrugged it off.

Either way, regardless of the excuses he comes out with, he is a waste of time in this sport and a continual let down. Fancy doing this on the eve of the season. Should be a lesson learnt for other clubs to steer clear now. Let him go and get a job in the real world although with his brains I wouldn't bank on it. If you put his brain in a hazlenut shell it would still rattle.

[Bash]

22 hours ago, IainB said:

The decision to replace Dan with Drew Kemp in June 2023 was an absolute stinker!

Not from an Ipswich point of view or Dan's as he has progressed more by having better riders around him

[Cross Roads]

What’s everyone’s predictions for the first half of the new season then….I don’t believe we will be as poor as some seem to be predicting.

Max is quality so solid all season.

Luke big season for him over all of Europe! is this the year to take it to the next level.

Sam and Ryan will be steady similar to last year.

Howarth I’m hoping a fresh change will be back to a good supporting role of the heat leaders clearly has the talent.

Sam lot of pressure on the young kid maybe a tough jump again this season hope proven wrong.

Drew similar to Luke needs to kick on this season at this level.

Dickson from past performances won’t mess around if guys not performing and will make changes I believe.

I think we will make the play offs just…

 

 

 

[sandking072]

Regarding Cook: Never fear, I’m sure there’ll be an exclusive interview with ‘Lanno’ about ‘my demons’ in the Star over the next couple of weeks. With plenty of flowery language but not actually saying anything. That’s the usual sketch.  

[TracksideView]

2 hours ago, Cross Roads said:

What’s everyone’s predictions for the first half of the new season then….I don’t believe we will be as poor as some seem to be predicting.

Max is quality so solid all season.

Luke big season for him over all of Europe! is this the year to take it to the next level.

Sam and Ryan will be steady similar to last year.

Howarth I’m hoping a fresh change will be back to a good supporting role of the heat leaders clearly has the talent.

Sam lot of pressure on the young kid maybe a tough jump again this season hope proven wrong.

Drew similar to Luke needs to kick on this season at this level.

Dickson from past performances won’t mess around if guys not performing and will make changes I believe.

I think we will make the play offs just…

 

 

 

Kyle should benefit from track time available at Glasgow, looks sharp in practise and seems like he's got his 2025 season head on already.

[szkocjasid]

I think some people are being unduly harsh when judging Kemp. Compare him to riders like Jordan Jenkins & Jason Edwards, all 3 have similar Champ averages. All 3 started 2024 outwith the RS position (racing at number 6), but only Kemp is still in that position. Granted Edwards was eligible last season, but even though Jenkins got into the RS position once Dan T got an improved average he still finished below 4. Then look at Leon Flint, in the RS position all year, has the highest Champ average of them all, but is still eligible for the RS spot this year.

I think Kemp deserves some credit for keeping the 4+ average he gained in 2023 from riding in the RS position.

Edited March 21, 2025 by szkocjasid

[szkocjasid]

On 3/20/2025 at 2:22 PM, IainB said:

The decision to replace Dan with Drew Kemp in June 2023 was an absolute stinker!

Kemp was better in 2023, the change improved the team, can't call that an absolute stinker.

In hindsight if they had kept Dan, they'd be better off in the long term. But I wouldn't blame the decision they made at the time.

 

[IainB]

Nice to see that Craig Cook is still in the team on Lions website:

https://www.leicesterspeedway.com/TeamLions

Perhaps he's now "ready to ride Speedway" after definitely turning out at Berwick's P&P day today 😉

[Liontamer]

Sam Hagon's even smaller than i imagined he was 😁

[Teromaafan]

4 hours ago, Liontamer said:

Sam Hagon's even smaller than i imagined he was 😁

His average is even smaller still!

[speedwayfan8]

Apparently an announcement on Monday, any ideas?

[IainB]

56 minutes ago, speedwayfan8 said:

Apparently an announcement on Monday, any ideas?

Ryan Douglas testimonial date. 

They announced the announcement last night 😂

Edited April 18, 2025 by IainB

[Mr Bump]

Gilkes replaces Hagon

Edited April 19, 2025 by Mr Bump

[40-38]

8 minutes ago, Mr Bump said:

Gilkes replaces Hagon

Ultimately it probably was the right decision, I just hope that he's given the time and backing.

[IainB]

Another lamb to the slaughter. 

So that's 2 changes already, neither of whom should have been in the starting line up.

[szkocjasid]

I thinks it's harsh & too early for a couple of reasons.

1) Hagon hasn't had any Champ matches yet to compare his form to Gilkes.

2) Leicester "reserved" Hagon as their RS, meaning no other team could secure him in the draft, to then drop him seems odd. To "reserve" Hagon rather than hope someone better was available when it came to their pick, must mean they had a lot of faith in Sam's ability, where has that faith disappeared to?

[LagutaRacingFan]

Very harsh.

There needs to be a rule that you can't drop rising stars.

 

[40-38]

7 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

I thinks it's harsh & too early for a couple of reasons.

1) Hagon hasn't had any Champ matches yet to compare his form to Gilkes.

2) Leicester "reserved" Hagon as their RS, meaning no other team could secure him in the draft, to then drop him seems odd. To "reserve" Hagon rather than hope someone better was available when it came to their pick, must mean they had a lot of faith in Sam's ability, where has that faith disappeared to?

I think that last question is a fair one, I'd be interested to hear an answer but I know we won't get one from the club. The only thing I can think of is Cook pulling out; perhaps they were willing to accept the low scores and building experience but now the situation has changed and Kemp can't replicate the scores Cook could have achieved at times.

I'd say that Hagon looked a bit better against BV the other week, although still largely gifted most of his points, but the other day against Ipswich he really did look miles off it, and it's been the latter more often that not in Lions colours.