Ricky set to realise his Aces dream

Richard Frost

January 11, 2007

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AMBITIOUS Salford lad Ricky Ashworth has brought his dream of riding for local club Belle Vue a major step nearer.

The 24-year-old will be a top man at Premier League Sheffield in 2007, but has joined the Aces' Elite League squad as their No 8.

It means he will be cover for the regular side in case of injury as well as being able to get to know the Belle Vue set-up and track.

It will also allow the Aces management to monitor his progress with a view to offering him the chance of the top-flight racing that he wants when the time is right.

Ashworth had his first taste of speedway at Belle Vue six years ago and almost came into the squad two seasons ago, only to be ruled out by a controversy over averages.

Fantastic

He said: "It's fantastic that I will be Belle Vue's No 8 next season. I hope that I don't get into the side because someone is injured but I do hope I will get a few meetings.

"I'll be down there as often as possible to practise and to learn. I did think about trying to move into the Elite League this season but I've got a good sponsorship at Sheffield and I want to be 100 per cent sure the time is right before I do make the step up.

"I've had a go in the Elite League at Poole and Peterborough, but I never did myself justice and I know now that I must be bang-on before doing it."

Team manager Eric Boocock has also reached agreement with Sheffield to sign their 21-year-old Australian rider Joel Parsons as their second doubling-up rider along with James Wright. He impressed Aces' fans late last season.

Boocock said: "They are ambitious lads who want the chance to ride for Belle Vue. I'm a great believer in finding riders who really want to race for you."

The next fans' forum is at the stadium on Monday (7.30pm).

What are your predictions for the new season? Have your say.

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Stephen, Ashton Under Lyne (11/01/2007 at 13:42)

We have to be realistic here,trophies will be hard if not impossible to come by this season.I predict a bottom three finish this season and i can deal with that as long as it brings Belle Vue back to the forefront of the sport.The new promotion have a difficult task with regards to team buliding having lost two important members of last years side,namely Jason Crump and Kenneth Bjerre,the latter leaving a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth of most BV fans.We also need to get the message across to the Manchester public that the Aces are alive and kicking, and need support from fans both old and new.It is also good to see that Belle Vue will be having a new track curator,as the track last season was really slick and not in the long held tradition of grippy Belle Vue tracks.All in all this season will be seen as something of a stepping stone season.

Roger, Exiled in Holmfirth (12/01/2007 at 00:35)

I'm pleased about shworth, but we urgently need somebody to wn some heats for us. Any news or rumurs?

Garry Cook, Preston (14/01/2007 at 21:30)

Any chance of some decent signings please? All the other Elite League teams are looking strong but we have just one heat leader, Simon Stead, plus a mixture of second strings and reserves. We don't want to return to the bad old days at the end of the John Perrin era when we were the laughing stock of the top-flight.

Peter Jones, Hannover.Germany.exiled (21/01/2007 at 11:01)

i wouldn't worry too much at the moment.Give the Experienced management a chance.They just might surprise
us all.After all.they are not new to Speedway or Belle Vue.

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