PREVIEW: BELLE VUE v WOLVERHAMPTON (Sports Insure Prem)
BELLE Vue take a seven-point lead at the top of the table into tonight’s (Monday) clash with second-placed Wolverhampton at the National Speedway Stadium.
The Aces are well set for the play-offs as they look to defend the Sports Insure Premiership title – but some of their toughest meetings of the season have come against Wolves.
The Monmore side knocked them out of the KO Cup and also edged an aggregate point over two terrific Bank Holiday battles at the end of May.
For Belle Vue, Norick Blodorn moves back into the top five and Tom Brennan reverts to reserve, whilst Wolves use rider replacement for the injured Luke Becker, and Ryan Douglas moves to No.5 as he swaps places with Rory Schlein.
The homes side are without Rising Star Jake Mulford due to a broken ankle, with Jack Smith coming in to guest.
Aces skipper Brady Kurtz said: “Winning the Pairs last week, as well the result we got at Peterborough, will be sending a strong message to all the clubs out there that we really mean business.
“Wolves are always tough customers at our place and I think they will miss Luke, but at the same time they’re not going to give anything less than their best and we need to reciprocate.
“The race for the play-offs is getting fierce and we are in a good position to consolidate our spot in the top four in the coming weeks. We just need to be consistent and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Wolves have a busy week on the road as they also visit Ipswich on Thursday, and in-form reserve Zach Cook said: “We’ve already got results at both of those tracks this season so there’s no reason why we can’t be there-or-thereabouts again this time around.
“If we can go to Belle Vue and put in a similar performance then that will also give us a real chance of getting that aggregate point the following week.
“As a team, the boys are in form at the moment and we hope to carry that on on the road this week.”
BELLE VUE: Dan Bewley, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Charles Wright, Brady Kurtz, Tom Brennan, Jack Smith.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Sam Masters, Steve Worrall, Luke Becker R/R, Rory Schlein, Ryan Douglas, Zach Cook, Leon Flint.
