Wolverhampton Wolves v Belle Vue Aces

WOLVERHAMPTON edged the balance of league points over Belle Vue in two competitive and eventful Bank Holiday Monday clashes.

The Aces won 47-43 at the National Speedway Stadium in the early afternoon meeting, with newly crowned German Champion Norick Blodorn starring at reserve with three race wins.

Wolves, who led during the first part of the meeting, secured a league point with a 5-1 in the last race from Sam Masters (14+2) and Luke Becker (12+1).

The reverse fixture at Monmore Green saw the Aces reel off a succession of race wins with captain Brady Kurtz in outstanding form with 15 points from six rides.

But Wolves were the more solid side and they raced to a 50-40 win to leave the visitors without a league point, and nursing two injury concerns after both Tom Brennan and Charles Wright crashed out.

Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “Taking four league points over the course of the two meetings, we’re pleased, it’s been a good day for us.

“You have to acknowledge that Belle Vue had some difficulties and that obviously impacted on their score.

“You’ve got to be at your best when it really matters at the end of the season and we’re trying to run into a bit of form.”

Aces manager Mark Lemon said: “We lost two of our guys tonight and our thoughts are with Tom who has gone to hospital to be examined for a back injury.

“Ultimately we were decimated by those incidents and taken down to just five riders, which put pressure on the rest of the boys.

“But we can’t take anything away from Wolverhampton, they are very good around their home track but we need to put this one to one side, regroup and get ready for Sheffield next week.”

WOLVERHAMPTON 50: Nick Morris 10+2, Leon Flint 10+2, Luke Becker 9+2, Sam Masters 9+1, Drew Kemp 6+2, Josh Pickering 6+1, Ryan Douglas r/r.
BELLE VUE 40: Brady Kurtz 15, Max Fricke 10+1, Charles Wright 6+1, Matej Zagar 5, Jye Etheridge 3, Norick Blodorn 1, Tom Brennan 0.

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Photo credit: PAUL ROSE