The Lions displayed improved form in their Elite League fixture against Belle Vue at home last night although in the end the Aces came away from Beaumont Park with a 52 points to 41 win.
After two drawn races the visitors took the lead as early as the third heat through Craig Cook and Scott Nicholls which extended to ten points after half a dozen races. After a share of the points in the following heat Norrie Allan gave Szymon Wozniak the task of scoring double points and he responded in what was the best race of the meeting and season so far. Szymon and Max Fricke were passing and repassing one another for second place behind Paul Starke. Eventually Szymon broke free of the visiting rider exiting the final bend but it took skilful judgement by Paul to close the throttle down at just the right moment to allow his partner through on the line without himself losing his place to Fricke.
The outcome reduced Belle Vue’s lead to three points but there was no holding the visitors who pulled ahead again. A maximum from Paul and Josh Auty in Heat 12 gave the team hope of a comeback but such a thought was swiped out in the penultimate heat that left the Paul Chapman and Sons Lions still looking for their first points of the season.
Leicester 41 points: Patrick Hougaard 11+1, Nicolai Klindt 2, Grzegorz Walasek 0, Szymon Wozniak 10, Sebastian Ulamek 5+1, Josh Auty 7+2 and Paul Starke 6+2
Belle Vue 52 points: Chris Harris 9+3, Max Fricke 9, Scott Nicholls 12+2, Richie Worrall 8+1, Craig Cook 8, Joe Jacobs 0 and Steven Worrall 6
