BELLE Vue have plenty of work ahead of them when the Cool Running Colts resume their National League home campaign against Kent this Friday, July 7 at the National Speedway Stadium.
The club will also take the opportunity before this meeting to pay our respects to the late Gordon Smith, who managed the Belle Vue Colts from 1986 to 2000, and who passed away in May.
The Royals hold an 18-point lead on aggregate after a late resurgence saw them steal a 54-36 win over the Mancunians at Iwade last month, putting themselves in a favourable position for the bonus point.
But they will certainly find much greater resistance from the Cool Running Colts in the North West, who are yet to be defeated on home shale this season and who are themselves back to full strength.
Kent, meanwhile, are without two of their big hitters, with Nathan Ablitt on Championship duty with Scunthorpe and Jack Kingston side-lined after suffering multiple injuries in a crash at Iwade last week.
Colts captain Jack Smith said: “We were very disappointed with how things turned out at Kent. We were in line for potentially winning the meeting, and to lose so heavily was a complete shock.
“But the boys cracked on as best we could, and the thing that gives us confidence is that we know what we’re capable of at home. We know we can put in some very big scores here.
“That’s the main goal for Friday, to win the meeting. It won’t be easy to pull back 18 points for the aggregate bonus but if we can, and we’re in a position to, then we need to aim for that too.”
“The NDL Play Offs this year will be the top two in the league and while we’re still looking for our first away win, every bonus point will be crucial in achieving that for us.
“Even without two of their best riders, we won’t be taking anything for granted against Kent. They showed us they can turn a meeting around at any moment so we need to be prepared for anything.”
The Cool Running Colts resume their NDL campaign in Manchester this Friday, July 7 against the Kent Royals, with a tribute to former Colts team manger Gordon Smith ahead of tapes up at 7:30pm.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking are now available to reserve online at bellevue-speedway.com/events.
BELLE VUE V KENT – FRIDAY, JULY 7 @ 7:30PM [NDL]
Belle Vue ‘Cool Running’ Colts: James Pearson 8.21, Matt Marson 5.65, Sam Hagon 7.58, Freddy Hodder 5.88, Jack Smith (C) 8.00, Paul Bowen 3.13, Luke Muff 3.85; TM: Steve Williams & Graham Goodwin
Kent ‘Iwade Garage’ Royals: Ben Morley 8.86, Jack Kingston R/R 6.45, Connor King 4.44, Tom Woolley (C) 6.67, Jacob Hook (G) 8.22, Sam Woolley 3.00, Rhys Naylor 4.44; TM: Jamie Willis
Aggregate Score: Belle Vue 36-54 Kent
Image: Ian Charles