JUBILANT Belle Vue boss Ian Thomas has beaten off fierce competition to sign Simon Stead, one of the hottest young British properties in speedway.

The acquisition of the 22-year-old Yorkshire rider in face of competition from Wolverhampton, Coventry and Peterborough is a real scoop for Thomas.

Stead, the three-times British Junior champion who topped the Premier League averages last season, completes a formidable top five that will give the Aces a serious cutting edge in the bid for honours next season.

Thomas had feared that Stead would opt to ride for Wolverhampton where he had five Elite League matches last season for a remarkable average of more than nine points a meeting.

But he has preferred to launch his top-flight career with the Aces who have signed him on loan from Workington, which is also part of the stable belonging to the new Belle Vue owners.

Thomas told M.E.N. Sport: "The fact that he rode for me at Workington last season didn't make a lot of difference because Simon was free to join who he wanted.

"Coventry and Peter- borough also asked for permission to approach him but then dropped out of the reckoning.

"It was a straight fight with Wolves and I am delighted we've got him because he's a rider who can go all the way in the sport."

Thomas reckons the signing of Stead has more than made amends for missing out on Aussie Rory Schlein, who has accepted an offer to move to Coventry.

He added: "I know Belle Vue fans wanted Rory back but had I been given the choice between the pair of them, I would have picked Simon.

"He is a key signing because now I have got him on board it leaves me in a perfect position to put the final two pieces of the team in place.

"I said I wanted to have it finished by Christmas but now it could be even sooner than that.

"I know who I want." Tweet