Speedway journeyman, Leigh Lanham, called his winter move to Belle Vue “a dream come true“.

The 32-year-old rider from Ipswich showed why by top-scoring for the Autogate Aces with three heat wins in five outings to finish with 13 points.

He outshone the big-name home stars and beat Eastbourne number one, Matej Zagar, with a powerful display as the Aces landed a resounding Elite League victory.

Team manager, Chris Morton, said: “Leigh is proving a terrific signing for us.

“He has put a real sting in the tail end of our side. He’s a revelation.

“He said that signing for us was a dream move for him, but it is working out that way for us as well.

“He is so tough out there on the track when he has to be.”

It was essentially a team effort as the Aces landed their second win in two home matches this season.

Stockport rider, James Wright, had his best ever haul for the Aces from the number two slot, scoring 12 points and four bonus from five rides to just fall one short of the 17 he once collected as a reserve.

The Aces made the best of starts with maximum points from the first three races to lead 15-3.

Wright set the scene with a great ride in the opener, passing Swede, Simon Gustafsson, on the inside of the second lap.

Style

Lanham won the second in fine style and went even better in the fifth when he came in as a replacement for the injured Charlie Gjedde, and took the notable scalp of Slovenian Zagar.

The Aces provided the first five winners, but the run was broken in the sixth when Swedish-born Finn, Joonas Kylmakorpi, raced away from Wright and Hans Andersen.

The visitors were fighting for pride now and they landed their first advantage in the next when Aussie, Cameron Woodward, won under pressure from Peter Karlsson.

The quality of the racing was improving as Eastbourne became more accustomed to the track and Gustafsson overtook Lanham on the first lap of a thrilling eighth heat.

The lead was reduced to nine when Kylmakorpi won a tactical ride in the ninth, but the Aces snuffed out the danger of a serious late challenge by romping away in the later races.

German rider, Tobias Kroner, signed to replace the injured Gjedde, will make his debut in Friday’s league match at Coventry.

Belle Vue: L Lanham 13, H Andersen 12, J Wright 12, P Hougaard 8, P Karlsson 8, W Lawson 6.
Eastbourne: J Kylmakorpi 15, M Zagar 7, S Gustafsson 5, C Woodward 5, D Lampart 2, L Dryml 1, R Kling 1.

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