KURTZ: POSITIVE SIGNS

BELLE Vue skipper Brady Kurtz was keen to take the positives from a six-point defeat at Sheffield in the opening Premiership fixture of the season.

Kurtz top-scored for the Aces with 12 points, including a win in Heat 15 as the visitors remained within range for the re-introduced aggregate point which will be up for grabs when the sides meet again in Manchester on Monday – and it’s a format the Australian approves of.

He said: “I think that’s a good start to the season. Sheffield are probably the strongest team on paper and to come here in the first meeting of the year in quite difficult conditions, we can be happy with that.

“We’re definitely going to build on it, and I think we can look forward to Monday and hopefully go back to our track and do what we do there.

“I think for sure it’s the best scoring system, it encourages the top riders to go out in Heat 15 and always give it their best, and obviously a win in Heat 15 is a big boost towards the bonus point.

“That’s going to be our goal on Monday, we want to secure that, but we’ll take it one meeting at a time and keep building. I’m sure there’s a lot of improvement to come from us.”

Pic: IAN CHARLES