ACES’ HAPPY HOMECOMING

BELLE Vue made a triumphant homecoming after their league title success by winning the fifth round of the Premiership Pairs.

The Aces, who were represented by Brady Kurtz, Matej Zagar and Rising Star Tom Brennan, defeated series leaders Ipswich with a 7-2 in the Final.

The result means the Manchester side could still mathematically win the competition in Monday’s finale at Leicester – but the Witches are 12 points ahead and would therefore need to finish last with the Aces winning the meeting to leave the overall scores tied.

There was a dramatic finish to the semi-final when Peterborough’s Chris Harris crashed on the last bend, with that incident sending Ipswich into the Final.

Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It’s been long overdue. We’ve had a pretty solid performance in the Pairs competition, but we haven’t quite got to the chequered flag when it mattered most.

“But tonight the Aces were brilliant and Tom stepped up as the Rising Star and had a great race, and gave me a bit of a tough decision whether to leave him in or not!

“It’s pretty hard not to see Ipswich putting in a solid effort on Monday and claiming the overall series, and righty so – they probably deserve it. But we’ve had a pretty good year so far, so who knows?”

Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “There is no shame in finishing second to Belle Vue, they are hard to beat around here, particularly Brady and Zagar, so I was pleased with the end result.

“At the end of the day, we maintained our 12-point lead, it is a different team chasing now but to come in with a 12-point lead and leave with a 12-point lead, I’m happy with that.”

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES