LEMON JOY AS ACES END DROUGHT

ECSTATIC Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon paid tribute to his team on-track and the team behind the scenes as the Aces were finally crowned Premiership champions.

Lemon had taken the Manchester side into three previous Grand Finals, missing out in 2015, 2016 and 2021 – but on this occasion they got the better of Sheffield in the decider to bring the silverware back to the National Speedway Stadium.

The Aces boss had to juggle his resources in the play-offs, even after signing Robert Lambert as an injury replacement for Max Fricke, as both Charles Wright and Jye Etheridge crashed out in Monday’s first leg.

Lemon said: “The feeling is elation beyond belief. I just didn’t think this could happen, and so much hard work has gone into it. This is our fourth Final, and I couldn’t bear coming here and losing another one.

“The fans have waited 29 years for this moment and they deserve it, they’ve been great. There are so many people we have to thank, including our owners Tony Rice and Robin Southwell, and get well to Robin.

“We’ve had ups and downs over the years, we’ve worked really hard, and credit to Adrian Smith our former CEO who put the ship back in place, and ATPI and Rentruck have been backers for years and years.

“The boys just rode their socks off tonight, and all season. We lost Charles and Reggie and our backs have been against the wall every time we’ve gone away, rider replacement has been tough.

“We lost Max and I thought, ‘oh no, here we go again, déjà vu’ but fortunately we brought Robert in as replacement for a long-term injury, and he’s been a star.

“Credit to Sheffield who have come back to the top-flight, well done to them and their fans, and obviously Ipswich and Wolverhampton making the play-offs, but what a year – I can’t believe it.”

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES