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| |  | BIRMINGHAM stunned play-off hopefuls Leicester as they picked up their first win of 2025 with a 45-44 triumph away to their Midlands rivals.
The Lions had become the first team to taste success at title favourites Ipswich last Thursday - but became the first side to be beaten by the Curtis Sport Brummies on an entertaining afternoon of racing at the Hydroscand Arena.
The contest opened with a 3-3 with captain Tobiasz Musielak working his way back past Luke Becker on bend two for third place.
Heat Two saw Birmingham take the lead when Jonas Jeppesen led a 4-2 after producing a lovely pass around Drew Kemp on the run to the line.
Musielak and Keynan Rew then made beautiful starts to land a 5-1 before Matej Zagar and Jason Edwards took a 3-3 in Heat Four.
The hosts moved back to within two with a 5-1 in the fifth before Zagar took the chequered flag in the sixth.
An all-action Heat Seven initially saw Leicester sat on a 5-1, but Kemp locked up in between bends three and four and left Rew with nowhere to go with the home man disqualified.
But it was Rew himself who then got excluded in the re-run after taking a tumble on his own before Zagar made a strong gate at the third time of asking to clamp home man Sam Masters for a rare 3-2.
Castagna found his way past American international Luke Becker in Heat Eight with Edwards taking third after a smart opening couple of turns before a great ride from Jeppesen saw him work his way by both Lions in Heat Nine.
Castagna again passed Becker and rode intelligently to hold on for second as the hosts moved back to within three before the Italian added another fine win on the board in Heat 11 to lead a 4-2 by getting the better of Masters.
A 3-3 followed in Heat 12 with Rew in second whilst Jeppesen again past Kemp and the hosts then moved within one of the Brummies with a big 5-1 in Heat 13.
But Birmingham effectively sealed the points in Heat 14 when Jeppesen and Rew out fought their opponents in the opening turns and despite conceding another 5-1 in Heat 15, a finisher was enough to see the Brummies over the line by a single point.
A reminder that Monday night’s scheduled home fixture against King’s Lynn was postponed on Sunday afternoon - the next action at Perry Barr is next Monday (June 2, 7.30pm) when the Brummies take on champions Belle Vue.
LEICESTER 44: Max Fricke 14, Sam Masters 11+2, Ryan Douglas 8+1, Luke Becker 4+1, Kyle Howarth 4+1, Drew Kemp 3, Joe Thompson 0.
BIRMINGHAM 45: Paco Castagna 11, Jonas Jeppesen 10+1, Matej Zagar 10, Keynan Rew 6+2, Tobiasz Musielak 5+1, Jason Edwards 3+1, Michael Jepsen Jensen R/R.
Leicester win the aggregate point 94-85
Photo credit: STEVE DIXON
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