BIG ADVANTAGE FOR ACES

PREMIERSHIP leaders Belle Vue produced a dominant away display to win the first leg of their play-off semi-final 52-38 at Ipswich on Monday.

The Aces repeated the result they achieved at Foxhall at the same stage of the competition four years ago – a campaign which saw them crowned champions.

Having been two points up after Heat 9, the decisive phase of the meeting came in the next four races, all of which ended in Belle Vue 5-1s.

Ipswich’s late response looked likely to reduce the deficit back to ten points, but Tom Brennan suffered mechanical failure when on a 5-1 with Tobiasz Musielak in Heat 15.

Soon to retire Peter Kildemand top scored for the Aces with 11+1, Jason Doyle scored 10 from four rides on his old home track and reserve Tate Zischke was key again with 8+3 including involvement in three 5-1s. Musielak led the Witches’ scoring with 10 from five rides.

Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “It went better than expected. Obviously in play-off speedway you know it’s going to be a tough challenge for the boys.

“But we were here less than a fortnight ago and we pretty much got off to the same start as last time and finished strong. We just rode the track really well.

“The boys have had a lot of confidence building up over the course of the season, and once again that was evident tonight.”

Witches boss Paul Hurry said: “They just weren’t reacting out of the start. Tobi was and Danny (King) gave it his all. So did Tom Brennan. But when Belle Vue have two current GP riders in their team and another former GP winner, they raise the bar that much higher.

“We didn’t have the manpower to do it. I’m not saying they’re not capable of doing it; they all are.

“We have said that all the way along this season. At the end of the day, we were just beaten by a better side.”

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Photo credit: JEFF HIGGOTT