BELLE Vue have catapulted themselves up to third in the National League table after an emphatic 51-39 win over Middlesbrough, in which they also claimed the aggregate bonus point.
It had been a busy and challenging 24 hours for the Cool Running Colts, after they ran Oxford close at Sandy Lane on Sunday, just missing out 49-40.
And even though they were again without Luke Muff and Harry McGurk, the Mancunians quickly set about Middlesbrough at the National Speedway Stadium.
In fact, after just four races they had already established a hefty 12-point lead before the visitors managed to get in a heat advantage of their own.
But it was a short-lived reprieve as the Cool Running Colts responded instantly to cancel it out and further extend their advantage on the night, as well as closing in on aggregate.
The bonus point ultimately came down to a last-heat decider after Middlesbrough secured a 5-1 in Heat 14 to keep their hopes of a consolation alive.
But thanks to the efforts of Freddy Hodder and newly-crowned British U-21 Champion Sam Hagon, the Belle Vue pair put any hopes of their opponents to rest.
Hagon dominated the scores with a flawless 15-point maximum, while Freddy Hodder and Matt Marson complimented his tally with an impressive 10 points each.
Hagon said: “Although in the end it was a pretty emphatic result on our part, it was crucial we stopped them from getting the aggregate bonus point.
“We knew, myself and Freddy, going into Heat 15 that we had to stop them from getting a 5-1 and it was a bit close in the beginning, but we managed to clear off in the end.
“It’s great to get our first few league points in the bag. We’ve been so close recently to getting a win and this was a really important result for us.”
The ATPI Aces resume their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign this Thursday, June 20 when they travel to Owlerton Stadium for another War of the Roses clash with the Tigers.
They then take to the shale at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, June 24 against the Leicester Lions, commencing the second half of their top flight campaign.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes, hospitality and south stand parking are now available to pre-book online at bellevue-speedway.com/events.
RESULT – BELLE VUE V MIDDLESBROUGH – MONDAY, JUNE 17 @ 7:30PM
Belle Vue ‘Cool Running’ Colts 51: Sam Hagon 15, Freddy Hodder 10, Matt Marson 10, Chad Wirtzfeld 5, Jack Shimelt 5, Mason Watson 4+2, Keiran Douglas 2+1
Middlesbrough ‘Heat Floors’ Tigers 39: Ben Trigger 9, Jake Mulford 8+1, Kai Ward 7+2, Danny Phillips 7, Jamie Halder 5+2, William Hocaniuk 2+1, Ben Rathbone 1
Aggregate Score: Belle Vue 92-87 Middlesbrough
Image: ©Belle Vue Speedway