FOXES v BELLE VUE, PREVIEW
NORTHAMPTON FOXES welcome league leaders Belle Vue to the Shaleway on Thursday (7.30pm) in what promises to be another high-octane ROWE Motor Oil Premiership encounter.
The Foxes finally got some reward for strong performances with a 45-45 draw at King’s Lynn on Monday, in their first meeting as a full one-to-seven following the return from injury of Matej Zagar.
Niels-Kristian Iversen, Nicolai Klindt and Jaimon Lidsey were all in fine race-winning form in Norfolk, but they and the remainder of their side face a major test against an Aces team which includes two of the sport’s biggest names.
Belle Vue skipper Brady Kurtz is the current World No.2, having narrowly missed out on gold last season, and the Australian is firmly in this season’s title fight being just three points behind leader Bartosz Zmarzlik at the halfway stage of the series.
The Aces also include 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle, one of the league’s most consistent riders over the last decade, who has led both Swindon and Ipswich to Premiership titles.
Doyle came into the Belle Vue side last month as a replacement for long-term injury victim Dan Bewley, and his presence has helped the Aces consolidate their position at the top of the table.
With an unblemished home record, an away win at King’s Lynn and a useful aggregate point at the expense of Ipswich, the Aces are five points clear in the standings as the campaign reaches the halfway stage.
There is one change to the visitors’ line-up as in-form Rising Star Will Cairns is absent as the first round of the SGP2 (World Under-21) series takes place in Sweden on Friday, with Sam Hagon coming in to guest.
The Foxes are unhanged from Monday, with Zagar making his first appearance at the Shaleway since opening night, his broken ankle having been suffered in the reverse fixture against the Aces at the National Speedway Stadium.
Foxes manager Chris Adams said: “It’s definitely not going to be an easy night, and Belle Vue will certainly be coming to try and add to their total at the top of the table.
“But I know that if our guys perform, we are more than capable of getting the win. I felt the result should have gone our way on Monday, and I can’t fault my side’s efforts at all.
“All season we have been mighty close everywhere we have been. On the road or on home shale we have taken almost every meeting down to the wire, and it is very encouraging that we are putting up such a fight in our first season.”
Advance tickets for the meeting are available from https://northampton-speedway.com/ticket-office , and cash and card admission will be available on the night. Supporters are asked to arrive as early as possible with another big crowd expected.
For those unable to attend, Foxes TV will be in operation once again with the meeting live streamed at https://www.northamptonfoxestv.com/ .
NORTHAMPTON: Jaimon Lidsey, Kye Thomson, Matej Zagar, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Nicolai Klindt, Troy Batchelor, Luke Harrison.
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Peter Kildemand, Zach Cook, Jason Doyle, Tate Zischke, Sam Hagon.