Challenge Match
Location: Leicester Cycle Speedway, Frog Island, Leicester
Event: 2 March 2013
Report: Tim Jarvis/Snowdon Sports
It may only have been a challenge match, but Leicester and visitors Wednesfield fought out an excellent advert for the sport - both giving their all with hard but fair racing throughout and only four points separating the pair at the end.
Leicester Monarchs took the lead in heat two with a 7-2 from Kevin Burns and Mark Whitehead over Lee Aris and Mark Griffiths, who then had to withdraw with a back injury, and they were never headed despite a valiant effort from the West Midlanders.
The absence of Griffiths proved too much of a handicap for the Aces to overcome, although they did get back on level terms in heat twelve thanks to a 6-4 from the back for Aris and Tom Haddock, only for Leicester to immediately go back in front.
All of the Leicester riders contributed, led by Craig Marchant, and 13-year-old Liam Davies showed that he belongs at this level despite a couple of falls when in scoring positions.
Marchant was as difficult to pass as ever and the team riding of Lukasz Nowacki was outstanding, suggesting he will be sorely missed with his limited availability this year.
The Aces were well served by Paul Heard and Aris, who looked far sharper than last season.
Result:
Leicester 91 (C Marchant 18, L Nowacki 16+2, K Burns 16, N Venson 10, N Whitehead 10+2, Mark Whitehead 9+3 ,A Doughty 7, L Davies 5).
Wednesfield 87 (P Heard 18, L Aris 17, C Jewkes 17, R Johnston 13+3, M Haddock 8+1, T Allen 8, T Haddock 6, M Griffiths 0)
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British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.
