REIGNING Premiership champions Belle Vue have a huge task ahead of them on Monday, May 8 when they face Wolverhampton in the deciding leg of their Knockout Cup quarter final.
The ATPI Aces were on the wrong end of a 46-20 thrashing when the two sides met at Monmore Green last month, but since then have experienced a massive boost in form.
They have enjoyed five consecutive wins since that defeat, including three away wins at Peterborough, Ipswich and Leicester, and two massive home victories at the National Speedway Stadium.
The new averages mean there will be a slightly revised riding order for the home team, with Jaimon Lidsey moving to No.3 and Norick Blodorn taking his place at reserve.
The aggregate winner of this battle will go onto face the Sheffield Tigers in the semi-finals and it will be a full-strength Belle Vue side that the Parrys International Wolves will encounter.
They are still without American sensation Luke Becker, who remains side-lined with an ankle injury and the club has called on former Aces rider Justin Sedgmen as cover.
Aces CEO Mark Lemon said: “This is the biggest challenge the team has faced this season. We put ourselves in a very difficult position at Monmore Green, but it’s not an impossible task and it is mathematically possible.
“With the form we’ve been recently hitting there’s no reason why we can’t be as dominant as Wolves were in the first leg and pull this 26-point deficit back.
“We know what they are capable of in Manchester and I don’t think any advantage, however big or small, would persuade them to take it easy in this meeting.
“I don’t feel we’re being unrealistic in believing we can still go through.
“You must be positive, and with what we have seen from the boys in the last few weeks we have every reason to be positive, but we need our supporters to be our eighth man trackside.”
The ATPI return to action at home next Monday, May 8 for the deciding leg of their Knockout Cup qualifier against the Wolverhampton Wolves in another big bank holiday bash, tapes up at 12pm.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes, south stand parking and hospitality are now available to pre-book online at bellevue-speedway.com.
BELLE VUE V WOLVERHAMPTON – MONDAY, MAY 8 @ 12PM [PREM KOC L2]
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Dan Bewley 8.46, Tom Brennan 5.71, Jaimon Lidsey 7.23, Charles Wright 6.92, Brady Kurtz (C) 8.11, Norick Blodorn 5.56, Jake Mulford (RS); TM: Mark Lemon
Wolverhampton ‘Parrys International’ Wolves: Sam Masters 8.21, Justin Sedgmen (G) 7.11, Rory Schlein 7.20, Ryan Douglas 6.49, Steve Worrall 6.62, Zach Cook 4.00, Leon Flint (RS); TM: Peter Adams
Aggregate Score After First Leg: Belle Vue 20-46 Wolverhampton
Image: Ian Charles