BELLE VUE were reduced to only three riders as they crashed to a 55-36 defeat at the hands of leaders Poole at Kirky Lane.

BELLE VUE were reduced to only three riders as they crashed to a 55-36 defeat at the hands of leaders Poole at Kirky Lane.

Big guns Hans Andersen (hip) and Peter Karlsson (knee) were ruled out after their opening rides, Tobias Kroner (virus) was already out and William Lawson crashed in Heat 13.

Aces boss Chris Morton said: “We were confident going into this meeting and had it not been for the injuries, we would have won. We have to face reality but the reality was a bit cruel tonight.”