SGB PREMIERSHIP | ACES EDGE FIRST-LEG THRILLER

Belle Vue star Dan Bewley raced to 15 points as the Aces beat Peterborough 46-44 in an SGB Premiership Grand Final, first-leg thriller at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester.

In an astonishing warm-up for the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations Final at the iconic track this Saturday and Sunday, the Aces and Panthers delivered one of the league matches of the season on Monday night.

Bewley led the charge for Belle Vue, and he was backed up by a rock-solid 13 points from Steve Worrall.

On a night the likes of Bewley and Peterborough star Chris Harris stole the show with some epic passes, it was seven-time British champion Scott Nicholls who starred for the Panthers.

Despite some difficult nights at the National Speedway Stadium in recent times, he racked up 14 paid 15 points from a sensational six rides to make Peterborough favourites to lift the title when they host Thursday’s second leg.

The Aces appeared on course for a comfortable aggregate advantage as they led the tie 38-28 after 11 heats.

But Nicholls started his side’s fightback in race 12 with a breathtaking swoop around Worrall on turn three, with Danish veteran Bjarne Pedersen winning a terrific tussle for second as Panthers cut the deficit to six with a 5-1.

Peterborough No.1 Michael Palm Toft then led Harris to a 5-1 in heat 13, with Bomber just seeing off Bewley on the run to the line.

Nicholls took charge for a vital victory in a shared race 14, before joining Harris in fending off Worrall fantastically on the final corner in heat 15.

Bewley won the race, but Panthers’ team riding earned them a 3-3 that sends them back to the East of England Showground with just a two-point deficit.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Panthers after Hans Andersen crashed heavily in heat three after clashing with team mate Nicholls. He appeared to suffer a blow to the head and was withdrawn from the meeting, leaving Peterborough to battle on with injury rider replacement. It’s unclear whether he will be fit for the second leg.

Meanwhile, Belle Vue went into the meeting without Aussie star Brady Kurtz, who remains sidelined following a fall at the Pardubice Golden Helmet on October 3. He could return on Thursday.

For full details of the scorers, click here: https://bit.ly/2TwXSFx.

Photo: Taylor Lanning