Lightning Ashfield Giants opened their home campaign against the team that most observed have tipped for the Conference League championship, Fresh from a 59-30 win over Boston at their King's Lynn track, they include some of the most highly rated riders in the Conference League. Hot prospect Barrie Evans is joined by Gavin Hedge a top Conference rider. There is also Shane Colvin who has been piling up the points with Premier League Reading as well as being almost unbeatable for Mildenhall.
Lightning did not respect this reputation and won more convincingly than the score suggests. The team contained riders from all four of the Northern tracks with Chrsitian Henry and Derek Sneddon from Edinburgh, Gary Flint and Robert McNeil from Glasgow, Rob Grant from Newcastle and Steven McAllister from Berwick. They were joined by a newcomer, Australian Rusty Harrison, due to the absence of David McAllan.
Christian Henry blew his engine at the start of heat one. He won the two races he completed using borrowed equipment. Rob Grant was top scorer for Lightning with sixteen paid seventeen from six rides.
Full details of Lightning's home fixtures will be published when available.