Ace Crump trumps Bees

Returning Harris can't stop Bees from losing lead right at the last

Last updated: 8th July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ace Crump trumps Bees

Crump: Perfect night for Belle Vue

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Jason Crump's perfect performance helped Belle Vue edge out Coventry 46-43 in a last-heat thriller in the Sky Sports Elite League.

The Australian managed a five-ride maximum to steer the Aces to a dramatic win that had never appeared on the cards for much of the night.

Boosted by the return of Grand Prix star Chris Harris, the Bees looked in complete control when they led by eight points after 11 races.

However, a disastrous 13th heat saw both visiting riders excluded, allowing Belle Vue a much-needed 5-0 result that re-ignited their hopes.

Defending champions Coventry held a slender one-point advantage going into the final race but were unable to hang on for an away win they so desperately desired to kick-start their campaign.

Top Crump

Instead they still find themselves propping up the rest in the table thanks to Crump, who held his nerve to roar home for a 15-point haul.

Charlie Gjedde followed his team-mate home to make it a one-two finish that put the Aces ahead for the first time since the sixth heat.

Young Dane Patrick Hougaard had marked his Belle Vue debut with a win in the second race to make it 7-5, though from then on the Bees were buzzing.

Back-to-back 5-1 results put them in front but the tide turned when both Harris and Rory Schlein were guilty of errors that led to them being ruled out.

While Monday's Sky live meeting in Manchester was lucky to avoid the rain Wolverhampton was not so fortunate as their home fixture against Lakeside fell foul of the bad weather.

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Comments (1)

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Norman Pardew says...

I believe this was a terrible tactical blunder from Coventry's Peter Oakes. Why oh why did he leave out Simon Stead from Heat 15? Harris is a notoriously poor starter and was clearly struggling all night, but just because he is their top rider he was thrown into the final race. A disaster for the Bees.

Posted 10:27 8th July 2008
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