CHAMPIONS HIT TOP FORM

BELLE Vue joined Sheffield and Ipswich on 17 points at the summit of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership with a 58-32 home win over Oxford.

The Aces ran up their biggest victory of the season at the National Speedway Stadium with Dan Bewley (13+2) and captain Brady Kurtz (12) both scoring maximums, whilst Zach Cook enjoyed his best performance for the club.

Cook racked up 14 points from five rides for the defending champions, only missing out on a full house to Erik Riss in his first outing in Heat 3.

But that was one of just three race wins for the Spires, with the other two coming from reserve Peter Kildemand who had a busy day and picked up 12+2 from seven outings.

Kurtz said: “It was a really good performance by the whole side. It was great to see Zach and Norick (Blodorn) go well. 

“I was pleased with our win at Oxford as well. It was a good boost for us and it’s good we are moving forward. 

“I always like the team we have at the start of every year. This one was definitely no different. We want to win again, that’s the only goal.”

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “Belle Vue is a tough track to visit, but no excuses – we didn’t have enough heat winners and we ran too many last places.

“Peter was a bit overworked but did a great job. But using rider replacement (for Craig Cook) didn’t really work for us.”

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES