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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Belle Vue will roll back the years when they open their 2010 campaign with the War of the Roses match at Sheffield on March 18.
It is much more than a seasonal pipe opener for the Elite League Aces against their traditional rivals who now race in the Premier League.
Pride will be at stake for the teams and their supporters, not forgetting team managers Chris Morton and Eric Boocock.
They used to be track rivals in their racing days and Boocock was Morton's team manager at Belle Vue in the 1970s before they joined forces for a season at Kirkmanshulme Lane in 2007.
Now Morton is the Autogate Aces team boss with Boocock back 'over the tops' at Sheffield in charge of the Tigers.
Morton loved the Owlerton circuit in his racing days and held the track record there for many years.
He says: “I'd love to jump back on a bike next week and do a couple of laps just for old time's sake. If I was going to do that anywhere, Sheffield is where it would me. But I'll resist the temptation and let the team get on with the job of riding the bikes.”
Morton, who finished his racing days with Sheffield in 1993, added: “I had the last meeting of my career there when I won the Northern Riders' championship.
“It was always one of my favourite tracks so I am looking forward very much to going back there in what will be a great pipe opener to the season for the riders.
“Not many of the team will have been there before but I know they will enjoy racing there. It was always fun to race at Sheffield.
“I always said when I was racing that Sheffield was one of the easiest tracks to ride and one of the hardest to win at because just about everyone could ride it well. Sheffield was always a track where we were always extra keen to win.”
Boocock added: “Matches between Sheffield and Belle Vue always had an edge because of the Yorkshire – Lancashire thing and we will be really charged up to start our season on a winning note.”
The match will be in preparation for the opening of the Elite League campaign on Monday, March 29 when the Aces face Coventry at Kirkmanshulme Lane (7 30).
New captain Hans Andersen misses the Sheffield match because he was pre-booked to ride at Swindon that night while Sheffield's Salford-based skipper Ricky Ashworth, who will double up with the Aces, will turn out for his parent club.
BELLE VUE: P Karlsson, J Wright, P Hougaard, L Lanham, C Gjedde, J Grajczonek, W Lawson.
A supporters' coach will be run by Eurorider to Sheffield and also to the League fixture at Wolverhampton on April 6.
The Sheffield departure is 5.45pm and will cost £12 for adults and £8 for children under 12. The Wolverhampton coach goes at 5-0pm (adults £16, kids £10). To book call Ron Shaw on 0161 456 0469 or ron [at] eurorider.co.uk.
Admission: Over 16 - £14, over 65 - £10, children 12 to 16 - £5, kids £1.
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