NEW world speedway champion, Jason Crump, got a hero's reception at Belle Vue last night on his first home appearance since clinching the title.
Then the skipper kept the celebrations going by leading the Fonestyle UK Aces to a 51-42 Elite League win over Arena- Essex.
He scored an impeccable 15 point maximum as Belle Vue stayed on course for a place in the end of season play-offs.
Crump was headed only once in five rides, surprisingly by Arena reserve, Andreas Messing who was making his first visit to Kirkmanshulme Lane.
But Crump blasted under the young Swede going into the third bend in heat 11 and pulled away to win comfortably.
Simon Stead was unbeaten by a visitor in his first four rides but was denied a maximum when he missed the gate in the final race and finished last.
Aces team manager Ian Thomas said: "We made hard work of it and it will be tight as far as the bonus point is concerned when we go to Arena on Wednesday for the return."
Belle Vue: J Crump 15, S Stead 10+2 bonus, K Bjerre 9+ 2, J Screen 9+1, J Wright 6, P Morris 1+1, T Madsen 1.
Arena-Essex: J Kylmakorpi 9, L Lanham 8+1, S Johnston 7+1, A Messing 7+1, M Max 6+2, H Bager 5+2.
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NOt sure how you can claim "as Belle Vue stayed on course for a place in the end of season play-offs"....it really would take a minor miracle now to overhaul Coventry for the last play-off spot. We'd need to win at Arena, win at Wolves, hold off Reading at home and then hope it's enough!!!.....The play-offs are gone.....we need to concentrate on the defence of the cup and an extremely tough semi-final with Poole. It was good to see the top 5 riders in good form last night especially Kenneth Bjerre and the excellent James Wright, but the reserves are woeful. We can't afford them to carry on like last night when we meet Poole....Perhaps Crump and Screen need to lend Morris and Madsen a decent bike each...
hi as a big fan of the acse i think that if belle vue dont win at arena on wensday then we mite not make it in to the playoffs . iall so think that we should get andy smith back phill morris as not been riding well at all and tom p madsen thats were belle vue are lousing points.
We have to win at Arena tomorrow then it's up for grabs