Speedway On Sky 19/5

[BritPete]

Arena Essex V Belle Vue + 4 Skybet 1.9, W.H. 1.83 Arena Essex have the smallest track in the league at just 252 metres! This does give them a home advantage, but several BV riders have been here a few times. England's ex-World Champion Mark Loram is their top rider, and he is very much on form, the problem is that although others in the main body of the team can pop up with useful points, they do not seem to have one particular rider to give Loram solid backing. Mostly, AE have relied on their reserves to do the bulk of the scoring, but, tonight that changes a little. The usual reserves have been Kelvin Tatum and Leigh Lanham, and being at reserve has mean't they can have up to 7 rides, and this has often produced high scores. But, tonight Paul Hurry returns, this will be his first meeting this year, and he will be at reserve, Lanham will move into the main body of the team where the rides are tougher, and he will no longer be able to take extra rides. Paul Hurry has been riding poorly for the last couple of seasons at Wolverhampton and Ipswich, he now returns to AE where he is, allegedly, a track expert! we will see, either way he has some catching up to do starting this far into the season. Belle Vue are having their best season for years, led by Jason Crump and Joe Screen, with back up from Kenneth Bjerre, and two strong reserves, r/r is being used for Toni Svab, but, this will make them stronger! The only obvious weak link is Tobias Johansson. I am expecting a close meeting tonight, and it is likely to be a rollercoaster ride, but, I cannot ignore the +4 about BV, and that is my selection.

[BritPete]

Result BV were very disappointing tonight, and despite reports to the contrary Svab DID ride for them, so they now had two passengers! Paul Hurry did very well all things considered, and AE won easily in the end. Result: AE 51 BV 42