ACES WIN BIG BUT ZISCHKE HURT

BELLE Vue raced to a massive 58-26 win over ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich with Jaimon Lidsey scoring a 12-point maximum.

But the night was marred by a serious crash in Heat 14 involving the Aces’ new signing Tate Zischke, with the meeting abandoned as the young Australian received attention before being taken to hospital for further tests.

Skipper Brady Kurtz returned with 10 points, a total matched by Dan Bewley as the hosts dominated, whilst the Witches again found the National Speedway Stadium a bogey venue. Emil Sayfutdinov reached a 10-point score for the visitors.

Kurtz said: “It was a super good performance from the whole team tonight and this is just what we needed to get going, it’s just a massive shame it ended how it did.

 “I think we suspected that Ipswich would struggle, especially being without Jason Doyle, but I think even we were surprised just how many points we put on them so early on.

“But every team has to deal with their difficulties and we had to capitalise on those to work to our advantage, and for me it was great to be back in action.”

Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was a really bad night, and we did not perform. As a unit I suppose it is good that we all have it on the same night and get it out of the way and we will regroup for Thursday.

“The boys certainly didn’t throw the towel in, and we fought very hard and got in good positions, but we have said it before and it was the case again today, we were not quick enough.

“There is a lot of head scratching going on as to why and if we end up coming here for the play-offs it is something that we certainly need to massively improve.”

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES