Leicester Lions v Belle Vue Aces

Report

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.”

LEICESTER 46: Max Fricke 12+1, Luke Becker 7+2, Ryan Douglas 7, Drew Kemp 6+3, Kyle Howarth 6+2, Sam Masters 4+1, Sam Hagon 4.
BELLE VUE 44: Brady Kurtz 12+1, Dan Bewley 11, Jaimon Lidsey 7, Norick Blodorn 5+1, Zach Cook 4, Jake Mulford 3+1, Tate Zischke 2.

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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON

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