PATCHED-UP King’s Lynn made Belle Vue fight all the way for the points at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday night.
Although they eventually lost 42-48 and also conceded the aggregate point, the Stars became the first team to keep the Aces below 50 points at home in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership this season.
That was despite operating rider replacement for injured number one Tobiasz Musielak and the absence of Benjamin Basso competing in a Grand Prix qualifier.
Belle Vue started strongly and led by eight points after just five heats, Ben Cook winning both of his early rides impressively.
But King’s Lynn dug in and dominated the minor placings as, despite the Aces providing four race winners, the next six heats were shared.
Michael Palm Toft won heat ten and was rewarded by manager Rob Lyon with a tactical substitute ride in head 13 and he repaid his manager’s faith by ending Dan Bewley’s maximum hopes.
Belle Vue secured the victory when the hugely impressive Cook sped to his third win of the night, Connor Mountain picking up the all-important third place.
But Kling’s Lynn finished on a high as Nils Kristian-Iversen and Patryk Wojdylo picked up a 4-2 over Cook and Brady Kurtz.
Stars’ boss Lyon said: “I’m very proud of them. They really took it to Belle Vue and if we’d have had a full team we’d have probably nicked it if I’m being honest.
“We got six points from Tobi’s rides. We were just that little bit short all the way through but overall it was a good performance.”
They are set to return to home action for the first time in three weeks on Thursday with a big local derby against top of the table Ipswich.
Belle Vue: Ben Cook 12+1, Dan Bewley 11, Brady Kurtz 8+2, Norick Blodorn 7+1, Jaimon Lidsey 7+1, Connor Bailey 2, Connor Mountain 1.
King’s Lynn: Michael Palm Toft 11+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 10, Anders Rowe 7+1, Patryk Wojdylo 7, Nicolai Klindt 4+1, Richard Lawson 3+2.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.