THE SCORES…
BELLE VUE 47: Kenneth Bjerre 12+2, Max Fricke © 10, Steve Worrall 9, Jaimon Lidsey 7+1, Dimitri Berge 4, Dan Bewley 3, Ricky Wells 2. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
IPSWICH 43: David Bellego 10, Danny King © 9, Chris Harris 7+1, Richard Lawson 5+3, Cameron Heeps 4+1, Krystian Pieszczek 4+1, Jake Allen 4. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: J. McGregor
VENUE: National Speedway Stadium
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Belle Vue | 9 | 20 |
| Ipswich | 6 | 14 |
| Peterborough | 8 | 14 |
| Poole | 7 | 12 |
| Wolverhampton | 7 | 10 |
| King’s Lynn | 6 | 6 |
| Swindon | 5 | 5 |
WHAT HAPPENED?
The ‘Tru Plant’ Witches claimed a point away at Belle Vue on Monday night in the Premiership after a 47-43 defeat at the National Speedway Stadium.
As has been the case in recent away meetings, the Witches started quickly and took the lead early on. Plenty of entertaining racing followed, live in front of the BT Sport cameras and the home side had to dig deep throughout to stay in the meeting. The Aces didn’t lead until heat 13 but things were level going into the final heat. Belle Vue hit a 5-1 that gave them the win, but Ipswich took a point for their efforts. David Bellego top scored with 10 for the Witches.
The Witches started perfectly in heat one as Danny King and Richard Lawson raced to 5-1. That lead was extended in heat two as Cameron Heeps won ahead of Ricky Wells and Jake Allen picked up a point in his first race back after injury for the Witches, giving the away side a 4-2. Steve Worrall held off a strong challenge from Bellego to win in heat three, but Chris Harris passed Dan Bewley for third meaning a 3-3 that left Ipswich 12-6 up.
The hosts sprung into life in heat four thanks to a 5-1 from Kenneth Bjerre and Jaimon Lidsey. Worrall was looking good on the night and he won again in heat five but King and Lawson both got past Bewley for a shared heat. Max Fricke won heat six with Krystian Pieszczek second and Dimitri Berge took third for a 4-2 to the Aces that levelled the score at 18-18.
Harris won heat seven for the visitors and there was a great battle for second as Bjerre and Bellego scrapped it out, the home man coming out on top but a 4-2 gave Ipswich the lead once again. The scores were soon level again after heat eight as Lidsey won ahead of King and Berge took third for a heat advantage to the Aces. Worrall made it three wins from three in heat nine but Allen and Pieszczek were both in the points for a 3-3 that made it 27-27.
Heat 10 was stopped after an eventful race. Berge had made the gate ahead of Harris and Bellego but Belle Vue captain Fricke had other ideas. He went past Bellego before setting his sights on Harris. Meanwhile, Berge made an error that put him to the back, but Fricke was too strong in his challenge, taking out Harris and he was excluded from the re-run, leaving Harris’ bike in a state. Bellego won the re-run with Harris third for a Witches heat advantage. Bjerre won a shared heat 11 and Bewley did the same in heat 12 meaning the away side led 37-35 with just three races to go.
The home side took the lead for the first time in the contest in heat 13 thanks to a 5-1 from Fricke and Bjerre. It was a hotly contested heat as Fricke and Lawson traded moves at the front and Pieszczek and Bjerre did the same for third. Fricke won the battle at the front and Bjerre won the battle at the back but Bjerre then passed Lawson on the final lap to take second and seal the maximum for the Aces. Bellego won heat 14 ahead of Lidsey and Allen took a point in third that levelled the score and took it to a last heat decider. Sadly, it went the way of the home side as Fricke and Bjerre recorded a 5-1 despite the best efforts of Bellego and that meant Belle Vue took a 47-43 win.
RIDER OF THE NIGHT…
Bellego was the top man for the Witches on the night scoring 10 points, recording two race wins in the process. The big track at Belle Vue suits the Frenchman and he showed everyone what he can do.
KEY MOMENT…
With the meeting going all the way to a last heat decider, heat 15 was obviously crucial. The home side came out on top with a 5-1 from Fricke and Bjerre that won them the meeting and they will be relieved after being pushed all the way by the Witches.
WHAT IT MEANS…
Belle Vue stay top of the table with this win, the Witches take a point after this narrow defeat that puts them second in the Premiership.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The ‘Tru Plant’ Witches host the Peterborough Panthers at Foxhall on Thursday 6th June in a Premiership fixture at 7.30pm.
AROUND THE TRACKS…
King’s Lynn beat Wolverhampton 52-38 at home in the Premiership on Monday night.