THEIR toughest challenge at home to date saw the Belle Vue ‘Cool Running’ Colts clinch a vital 49-41 win over Cumbrian rivals Workington at the National Speedway Stadium.
With their Play Off hopes on the line, two more crucial league points pushes them up to third in the NDL table, with the return fixture at Northside set for Saturday, August 26.
The home team found themselves short two of their regular 1-7, with both Sam Hagon and James Pearson on Championship duty; although Hagon’s night was cut short by a rain off at Edinburgh.
With ATPI Aces Rising Star Connor Bailey leading the way, the Comets were the first to take control of the action in Manchester, leading 5-7 after two races.
But the Cool Running Colts were quick to respond with two heat advantages to swing the lead in their favour at 14-10 after four races, though the Comets were far from beaten.
Bailey teamed up with Elliot Kelly in Heat 5 to secure a maximum 5-1 that levelled the score at 15 apiece before the home team responded in kid to re-establish their lead.
A succession of shared heats ensued until the visitors struck with a 2-4 to narrow the gap to just two points going into the interval at Heat 11.
But refreshed from the break, the Cool Running Colts dug deep to finish the job and a 5-1 in heat 14 from Freddy Hodder and Luke Muff sealed the win for the home team on the night.
Skipper Jack Smith top scored for Belle Vue with a brilliant 16 points, while Freddy Hodder contributed his best score of the season with 10+1 while Matt Marson added 9+3.
Smith said: “We knew this was going to be a difficult night. We weren’t as strong as we usually are, being without both Sam and James, so this was a real team effort for everyone to pull together.
“Workington were the team that, we felt, would put in the biggest challenge to our home record because they have guys in their team who know Belle Vue and who have spent a lot of time here.
“And at one point they actually got their noses in front, but we didn’t hit the alarm, we knew we needed a big response and everyone dug deep and did what they had to do.
“It’s a huge confidence boost, especially at this stage of the season, to get a result like this without two of our strongest riders, and it proves we can cover for them if we have to.
“This is only the first step, we’ve still got a job to do at Workington and we’re looking forward to going there on Saturday, at full strength, and hopefully get the job done.”
The Cool Running colts head to Workington’s Northside Arena on Saturday, August 26 for the return fixture against the GT Tyres Comets, tracking an 8-point aggregate lead.
Then, the ATPI Aces round off an extended bank holiday of racing with their final calendar fixture in the Premiership on Monday, August 28 against the Leicester Lions.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and hospitality are now available to pre-book at bellevue-speedway.com/events. South stand parking is sold out, but St. Peter’s School will be open on the day.
RESULT – BELLE VUE V WORKINGTON – FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 @ 7:30PM [NDL]
Belle Vue ‘Cool Running’ Colts 49: Jack Smith 16, Freddy Hodder 10+1, Matt Marson 9+3, Luke Muff 8+2, Jacob Hook 6+1, Jack Shimelt 0, Sam Hagon r/r
Workington ‘GT Tyres’ Comets 41: Connor Bailey 13, Luke Harrison 10+1, Sam McGurk 8+2, Elliot Kelly 5+1, Harry McGurk 3, Luke Crang 2, Ace Pijper r/r
Image: Ian Charles