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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Belle Vue team boss Chris Morton has told his side to ride for pride when they complete their Elite League campaign at home to Swindon next Monday (7 30).
Morton was furious with the below par display against Coventry on Monday which resulted in the second home defeat of the season for the Autogate Aces.
His side won only four of the 15 races which, on their own track, was just not good enough even taking into consideration the wet conditions and the fact that some riders were carrying injuries.
Now he wants a grandstand finale in the rearranged match against Swindon, saying: “I was so disappointed with our performance against Coventry because they handled the conditions and we didn’t.
“We thought we had put together a really good side this season and we never expected to have nights like that.
“The last few meetings have been very disappointing. There was always the chance of us making the top four and a place in the play-offs if other results went our way.
“That did happen and it was such a letdown because that opportunity did come along, as we knew it might, and we failed to respond to it.
“It was a situation we had been waiting for and it was very tough not to take advantage of it because we were good enough to qualify for the play-offs.
“Now the chance has gone and I want the team to ride for their pride against Swindon on Monday. That’s all that is at stake and I hope they are able to give the fans a good finale to the season.”
Morton is looking to bring in popular former captain, Joe Screen, as a guest replacement for injured Ulrich Ostergaard.
Screen, now with Premier League Glasgow, had been booked for the Coventry match but then had to withdraw after being taken ill during a match at Scunthorpe.
Swindon superstar captain Leigh Adams will be making his final appearance before retiring home to Australia after a 20-year career in Britain.
The Aces have marked his contribution over the years by taking the unusual step of featuring him on the programme cover, an honour normally reserved for home riders.
Captain Hans Andersen rides in the Nordic Grand Prix at Vojens, in his native Denmark, on Saturday when Belle Vue teammate, Patrick Hougaard, has been nominated as a reserve.
Andersen has been struggling with a broken index finger on his left hand for the last two rounds and he has dropped to tenth place in the overall standings with just three rounds to go. He will be desperate to resume top form in front of his home fans as he needs a top eight finish to ensure his place in the 2011 Grand Prix.
Hougaard was celebrating his success last Sunday when he captained Denmark to the gold medal in the World Under-21 Team Cup final at Rye House, Hertfordshire, when they ended the five-year winning reign of Poland.
Hougaard goes for a World title double when he rides in the third and last round of the World Under-21 individual final at Pardubice in the Czech Republic on October 2. He goes into the meeting in second place, just two points behind Russian leader Maksim Bogdanovs.
The Aces are likely to have one more match at Kirkmanshulme Lane this season, a junior meeting against the touring American Dream Team on Monday, October 11.
Morton said: “We are close to completing the arrangements and hope to be able to confirm the date shortly.”
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