It was a night of mixed fortunes for the Autogate Aces’ stars, with Aussie Rory Schlein, in superb form yet again, rescuing the draw with a brilliant 13-point show.
Youngster Craig Cook gave another fine display to celebrate being named the referees’ Premier League rider of the year last season when he was at Workington.
In addition, Polish rider, Lukasz Jankowski, made a fine return to the club where he rode four years ago.
He scored six points plus two bonus from six rides as he had to take extra races after Swedish rider, Ricky Kling, had been forced to withdraw from the meeting with an injury to his left hand after crashing in heat four.
But the big disappointments for the Aces were skipper, Chris Harris, who only managed give points from give rides, while Patrick Hougaard continued his struggle for form after his recent hand injury and finished with two points from four races.
A disconsolate Harris had been desperate to shine against the Coventry club where he spent so many years until joining the Aces this season.
Harris said: “Maybe I was over-trying because I was so keen to do well against them. I can only apologise to the fans because my performance was not good enough.”
A see-saw match went into the final race with the scores all square at 42-42 and Coventry seemed set to snatch victory in the last race when they took the lead from the start.
But Schlein passed both of the visitors on the back straight on the first lap with a superb display of high-speed racing near the fence to ensure the draw.
Aces team manager, Jim Lynch, said: “We’ll have to say goodbye to a top-four place after this. Coventry rode as a team and we were disjointed.
“We lacked the consistency to call ourselves a play-off team. It was criminal that Jankowski should give a performance like that on his return to the club and we only get one point out of the meeting.”
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Hugely disappointing result from the Aces last night.Our chances for a play off place has now gone out of the window.Hougaard's form must be a concern for the management.Whether he is still suffering from his hand injury I don't know but he has gone downhill rapidly since his accident.Chris Harris was also poor and I would have expected more from him.Thank goodness for Rory Schlein,Craig Cook and Charlie Gjedde.Jankowski also did well on his return to Belle Vue.
I guess its back to the drawing board ready for next season and a new beginning with the new stadium and hopefully a good team who can restore the glory days once more.
Here's hoping!!!!
What's that snail doing on the track? That's no snail, that's Patrick Hougard! Blimey, my 4 year old daughter could go round faster pedalling her trike!
Chris Harris, too! What a huge disappointment. Jim Lynch's decision to put the woeful Harris in the final heat in preference to the electric gating Craig Cook or the dependable Gjedde was a huge gaff which cost the team a point.
We have been sitting in a false league position all season, as now that Coventry & Peterborough, are catching up with meetings ridden, the true nature of Belle Vue,s appalling home track record is showing up. The blame lies entirely with the inept management team, and new track or not, with them in charge I see no change next year.
Just not good enough home or away simple as that. Hugely dissapointing season for the Aces after what promised to be a good season with the signing of Harris, but he has not been at his best, come back Crumpy at least he was a consistent heat leader shame the rest of the team weren't, but this season none of the team have been consistent at all. Must be a change in team management next season I feel