BELLE Vue wrap up their NDL campaign at home on Friday, September 8 with a crunch clash against reigning National League Champions the Leicester Lion Cubs.
It’s a must-win fixture for the Cool Running Colts, who currently sit second in the league table but whose Play Off hopes hang in the balance after a closely contested season.
With two matches remaining – their final being on the road at Berwick on September 16 – they need to secure maximum points from both meetings to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying.
Their home record this season has been second to none, and the club have taken almost every aggregate point on offer from every track they have visited.
Both teams find themselves without some key figures for their clash at the National Speedway Stadium as a result of overlaps with the British Speedway Championship.
Rider replacement will be in operation for Belle Vue at No.1 in place of James Pearson while Sam McGurk steps in at No.3 to cover for Sam Hagon.
Similarly, Leicester have called on Ben Morley and Danny Phillips to guest for the injured Dan Thompson and absent Ashton Boughen respectively.
But despite the gaps in his side, team co-boss Steve Williams maintains his faith in his team to produce a big display at home and secure the three league points.
He said: “Unfortunately, due to the large number of rain offs in the Championship we do find ourselves under strength, but the way the lads performed against Workington gives us great hope.
“We were likewise without Sam and James for that meeting and produced probably the best match of the season so there’s no reason to think Friday will be anything other than a fierce battle.
“This is our final home match of our regular fixtures before the Play Offs and I don’t think there’s any better way to finish than with a “must-win” meeting against the reigning NDL Champions.
“The final outcome of our NDL Play Off hopes may be out of our hands but we’ve done, and will still do, everything in our power to have as big an influence over our destiny as we can.”
The Cool Running Colts take on the Leicester Lion Cubs this Friday, September 8, tapes up 7:30pm, before they travel to Berwick on Saturday, September 16.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking for our home NDL fixture are now available to pre-book at bellevue-speedway.com/events.
BELLE VUE V LEICESTER – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 @ 7:30PM [NDL]
Belle Vue ‘Cool Running’ Colts: James Pearson R/R 8.67, Matt Marson 5.65, Sam McGurk (G) 8.17, Freddy Hodder 5.81, Jack Smith (C) 8.44, Jack Shimlet 3.00, Luke Muff 4.57; TM: Steve Williams & Graham Goodwin
Leicester ‘Watling JCB’ Lion Cubs: Ben Morley (G) 10.27, Max Perry 6.70, Danny Phillips 7.04, Tom Spencer 6.00, Joe Thompson (C) 8.38, Vinnie Foord 3.36, Max James 5.56; TM: Dave Howard
Aggregate Score: Belle Vue 39-51 Leicester
Image: Ian Charles