Stick with us, says Aces boss

Richard Frost

May 23, 2007

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BELLE Vue managing director David Gordon has assured fans there will be gain to follow the pain.

But Gordon, who headed a takeover for the club last winter, warned that there will be a tough period ahead before the good times roll again.

The Aces have made significant strides since the takeover, highlighted by the agreement with sponsors Channel M, who have started broadcasting the weekly TV Biker Show, and improvements to the stadium.

But the problems remain in reinforcing a side which lost world champion Jason Crump and Dane Kenneth Bjerre during the winter.

Those problems were on show on Monday night as the Aces lost 52-39 at home to Peterborough.

Gordon said: "We have said since taking over that this is a period of transition. We know we'll have bad nights but I don't want supporters to think it's not a pain to us as well as them.

"But we've got to take the pain to get what we mean to be a gain eventually.

Problem

"We are working on the problem of improving the side but we are still a way off solving it. It's very disappointing but it's not destroying us because we are still in the building process that started when we took over.

"I know it isn't easy to be patient because I am the most impatient person in the world. I'm pulling my ears out with this situation but I know we all must stay calm and under control.

"We must apply ourselves to the job of getting Belle Vue back to where we want it.

"It's as simple as that; we've got to apply ourselves to a job that's there to be done.

"But it's not an easy fix. If it was, it would be an easy fix for Ipswich and Oxford, who are also looking for new riders.

"The riders we need aren't out there, so we have to work with what we've got.

"Our only cure at the moment is to keep going, keep the fans behind us and make sure that it's a different story for them next year.

"We'll go through this together. But we've got to accept that we are going to have to take more pain this year like we took against Peterborough on Monday."

Do you think the Aces will turn their fortunes around? Have your say.

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manchesterpaul, Manchester (23/05/2007 at 12:52)

A swathe of opinion that is forming amongst supporters is that we accept the difficulties in forming a competitive team this year. However, we won't hesitate to turn up every single week, so long as, we can please have some entertainment. It has become the exception rather than the rule to get a track successfully prepared to provide us with a speedway racing track, as opposed to speedway gating.
Speedway has the benefit of being a sport where even if your team is losing, one can still be treated to an evening full of enjoyment by the sheer spectacle of the event. I'm just glad that so far this year i haven't embarrassed myself by waxing lyrical over the sport to outsiders and then having them witness an appalling level of entertainment.
It's clearly time to shift priorities. We will not win anything this year, we don't care so long as you please, please make the number one weekly task to present us with some speedway racing. Tracks up and down the country have similar hurdles to clear as Belle Vue in track preperation and they manage to provide good fare.
Too often this season all the superb publicity work that has been undertaken to attract newcomers goes to waste. People attend for the first time never to return or recommend it to others, as they are bored mindless at processional 'racing'.

ted knott, droylsden (23/05/2007 at 15:10)

I used to follow the aces between 1963 and 1969 regularly but only been on the odd occassion since (approx twice) however I always look to see how they are doing. does any aces fan recall this team - - Peter Craven,Dick Fisher,Cyril Maidment,Soren Sjosten,Gordon McGregor,Jim Yacoby,and Bill Powell? what a great team they were.later Ove Fundin joined us he was at the time five times world champion (1967) Ivan Mauger was one of the quickest starters at the tape ever and once in front NO ONE could catch him he rode the white line to perfection. We had Tommy Roper who always came from behind a great fence rider but on a track such as Cradley Heath he just couldn't hack it.Not long after young Chris Pusey came through the colts and was a revelation ,Dent Oliver who was the manager at the time said"within 4 or 5 years Chris will be either world champion or dead" he was neither but what an exciting rider well worth the admission fee.There were others like Ken Eyre,Norman Nevitt,George Curtis,and Eric Boocock.After I stopped going there were of course Peter Collins,Alan Wilkinson and the likes.Who was my greatest? PETER CRAVEN R.I.P. lost his life after a tragic crash at Edinburgh in September 1963 a few weeks after winning the world crown at Wembley like Chris Pusey he was a brave corageous liverpudlian who gave every speedway fan great excitement whenever he rode a Jap bike, not long after they introduced an Esso engine with a JAP frame.For years Craven held the track record at the Hyde Road stadium of 69.4 seconds for 4 laps a record I dont ever think was beaten. If you log on to www.manmates.co.uk you will find a speedway article on there plus an old photo, great days,big crowds and great teams and riders EVERY team as well,sadly the sport isn't as poular these days but I still watch out for the ACES!

ted knott, droylsden (23/05/2007 at 15:27)

re- the aces on the manmates website click on main inex and then click on aces photo.During the early sixties a workmate of mine Keith Robinson was a massive aces fan he and all his family went to almost every match in those days.He lived at 247 Broom Lane in Levenshulme but I lost touch with him after 65/66 however in the mid seventies I called in on him after he was married living on Higher Lomax lane in Bury still working as a postman never seen him since but what a big fan of Belle Vue Aces he was,Keith as a schoolboy attended Spurley Hey on Mount road and one of his pals was Wayne Fontanna ex Mindbenders. his real name was Glynn Ellis.Before I go I forgot to mention Taffy Owen ex Aces rider who came through the Colts and if Im not mistaken at Rochdale rugby stadium,was it the Hornets or was it for the Colts I'm not sure?

walker, Germany (23/05/2007 at 16:18)

Ted knot,
I couldn't agree with you more.i was at a meeting when chris pusey fell off 4 times in one race.he kept getting up,and finished the race.Those riders were proud of wearing the Aces Jacket.i spent almost 20 happy seasons Following Belle vue.Home and away.icarried on watching them race in Germany every Sunday.What Riders.You don't get them that caliber now.

walker, Germany (23/05/2007 at 16:30)

The Great Ivan mauger broke peter Cravens Track record.Afterwards Ivan went on the public Adress system and apologized.saying he only wanted to equal it.Not set up a New Track record.That was real entertainment1not like this stuff they have now.No wonder the bars always full.

Roger in the Holme Valley (23/05/2007 at 22:18)

Well we ain't getting this sorted it would seem. I think it's an almighty risk to trust that the crowd will keep turning up to watch us get battered.
I do get a bit torn, at least we have some Speedway, even if it is watching a losing team, but it's better than none at all. However I fear the fan base is not big enough to withstand a series of maulings at home.
It feels like all the good work done by Mole and Thomas, in turning Belle Vue's fortunes completely around is being carelessly tossed away.
Interesting article about points limits in the proggy. Some very good points but I don't believe that Mole would have left us with such a sorry septet had he still been in charge.
Whilst we're getting all nostalgic my favourite rider was Mort himself. Crap gater, always found a way to pass, watching him sweep round the boards at Hyde Rd with his back wheel inches from the fence and then getting a sling shot effect down the straights was so spectacular. Best round Kirky Lane? Only ever seen Screen make passing look easy time after time.

ted knott, droylsden (24/05/2007 at 04:30)

Thank you Walker for the Ivan Mauger info I didn't realise he broke Cravens track record. YES I too remember Chris Pusey continually falling off his bike of course he was a novice at the time but his mentor the late great Dent Oliver was very paitent with him and helped to to become a top rider he knew quality,however Chris never reached his full potential and I cant remember when he actually finished at Belle vue,I imagine it was in the mid seventies when disappeared.I would really like some snaps of the team from 63 to 69 anything to do with the Aces. my email address is ted.knott2@ntlworld.com or alternatively send them to webmaster@manmates.co.uk both would be ideal. thanks.

manchesterpaul, Manchester (24/05/2007 at 10:57)

Regarding the comments about Chris Morton scraping the boards. Would even he be able to overtake on the new spur of the M60 that Belle Vue has become more often than not?.

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