BELLE Vue's hopes of a grandstand finish to the season have been rocked by star man Joe Screen breaking his collarbone for the second time this season.

He suffered the injury when he was struck by another machine after falling in a grasstrack meeting in Cornwall yesterday.

Screen, who fears tests will show other damage, will be out for the rest of the season.

The injury could not have come at a worse time for the Fonestyle UK Aces, who face hoodoo side Poole tonight when they begin a crucial 10-day spell.

They continue their defence of the Knockout Cup when they ride the first leg of the semi-final against the Pirates at Kirkmanshulme Lane (7.45).

Sickener

Then they face their final two Elite League matches at Wolverhampton next Monday and at home to Reading the following Wednesday needing victories to make the top-four play-offs.

Poole are the only side to have won at Belle Vue this season and are also the only club to have beaten the Aces twice on aggregate in the league.

Aces team boss Ian Thomas said: "Joe's injury is a real sickener. The signs were there for a good run-in to the season in the cup and the league."

The Aces will operate the rider replacement rule to cover Screen's rides with everyone, apart from Jason Crump, eligible for an extra race.

New World champion Crump was eliminated in the semi-final of the Latvian GP in Daugapvils after scoring 11 points in the qualifying heats. Winner was American Greg Hancock.

BELLE VUE: S Stead, J Screen (rider replacement), K Bjerre, J Wright, J Crump, P Morris, T P Madsen.

POOLE: B Pedersen, C Boyce, G Walasek, K Kasprzak, A Lindback, J Davidsson, M Wethers.

ERIC Boocock, the former Belle Vue and England team manager, will be signing copies of his new book, Booey: Around in Circles, at tonight's meeting.

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