LIONS WIN IN LAST HEAT DRAMA

LEICESTER edged out defending ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Belle Vue 46-44 in a dramatic finale at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.

The Aces hit back from a ten-point deficit in mid-meeting with back-to-back 5-1s to force a last heat decider where they were two points adrift.

Dan Bewley and skipper Brady Kurtz made the start and looked set to clinch a match-winning maximum – but Lions captain Max Fricke surged under Kurtz on the third bend, forcing his rival wide which enabled Luke Becker to also make it through for a 3-3.

Fricke led the Leicester scoring with 12+1 whilst Kurtz on 12+1 and Bewley with 11 were the top scorers for the Aces.

Said Fricke: “It’s always tough when you’ve got a last heat decider, and to start behind I thought I’d got my work cut out, but we were able to pull it off in the end and Luke was able to get through.

“When it’s a pair riding in front it’s always difficult to make a pass, but I was able to make a bit of speed and get down the inside, and just make enough room for Luke as well.

“It was good to come away with a win. We started really well and then we kind of tailed off in the middle, so we need to pick up that, but we had a bit of misfortune along the way as well.”

Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “To come away from Leicester with that result, we are pretty happy. 

“The final race was two GP boys out there going hammer and tongs. That’s what you expect. There was a lot riding on it. 

“Obviously Max didn’t want to let his team down. It’s racing, we’ll come back and fight another day.”

Watch the action from Heat 15 (courtesy of CLEAN CUT SPORTS)

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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON