West Cumbrian star Dan Bewley and his Belle Vue team-mates were on the wrong end of a 60-30 walloping at Leicester last night.
On top of that Bewley, who won the British Grand Prix last Friday, was left shaken after a bad crash in heat 13.
It was Leicester’s biggest win since rejoining the top-flight as they continued a run of impressive home results with their top four in peak form. Skipper Max Fricke scored a 15-point maximum while Ryan Douglas (14+3), ex-Comet Kyle Howarth (11+2) and Sam Masters (11+1) were also in the major points.
That enabled the hosts to cover for the absence of injured American Luke Becker, whilst the Aces struggled without captain Brady Kurtz and they conceded 5-1s in each of the first three races.
Bewley recovered to post 10+1, including two race wins, but he was fortunate to walk away from a spectacular tumble in Heat 13 when he lifted and fell on the back straight, thankfully being avoided by the other riders.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “We started very well to go 15-3 up after three races, and my riders are hitting a bit of form.
“We did the same thing last year, maybe a wee bit later than what we have done this year, but Dan Bewley is still a big scalp for my riders to take and two or three of them managed to beat him to the line.
“Belle Vue had a tough night, but we can only beat what’s in front of us, without being boastful, and we’ve now racked up three really big scores, which will be important for us because we’re going to need to get aggregate points as King’s Lynn are chasing us.”
Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “Dan’s back in the pits, he’s a bit battered and bruised. But I don’t think anything more serious. A bit of gravel rash and banged up a bit.
“It was typical we were on a heat advantage for the first time all night. I guess that really sums up our disappointing night.
“But at the end of the day, Leicester are riding really well. In recent weeks they’ve got themselves really dialled in. I don’t want to take too much away from them.”
