Elite LeagueLakeside Hammers 60 Belle Vue 33A BLISTERING team performance saw the Lakeside Hammers hit 60 points as they put Manchester's Belle Vue Aces to the sword at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday evening.

Elite League

Lakeside Hammers 60 Belle Vue 33

A BLISTERING team performance saw the Lakeside Hammers hit 60 points as they put Manchester's Belle Vue Aces to the sword at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday evening.

The victory saw the club move up into third place in the Sky Sports Elite League in the crucial run in to the end of season play-offs, leapfrogging Coventry, coincidentally the next visitors to Essex next Saturday night.

The Hammers co-promoter, Stuart Douglas, was upbeat about the team's prospects. He said: “If we can ride as a team like that, then I believe we are capable of beating anyone.

“I'd like to think that the lads are riding into form at just the right time, and if we can go into the play-offs in tune and without injury then we can go one step further than last season, which is win the whole thing.”

Fellow co-promoter, Jon Cook, was equally ebullient. He said: “Two weeks ago, Belle Vue gave us a closely fought battle, but tonight our boys just stepped up another notch - it's not so much that the Aces underperformed, but much more that we were on scintillating form, and we witnessed some great speedway. Jonas Davidsson was a class apart, and the team riding of Joonas Kylmakorpi and Lee Richardson was superb. We now need to take this form into next Saturday's encounter with play-off rivals, Coventry.”

The next action at the Arena-Essex Raceway for the Hammers is when they face the Coventry Bees in a vital Elite League fixture on Saturday, August 22. Once again the 'Kids for a Quid' scheme will be in operation whereby children between the ages of six and 16 will be able to witness top class speedway for just �1. Children under six will be allowed entry free of charge. The action will get underway at 7.45pm with the parade of riders.

A big crowd is anticipated for this match with many Bees supporters expected to make the trip down from the Midlands. Supporters are, therefore, requested to arrive at the raceway as early as possible to avoid queues at the pay booths. The gates will open at 6pm and there are large free car parking areas.

This is a match that could prove to be highly significant in ultimately deciding the eventual play-off places and is a fixture that fans from both clubs are eagerly looking forward to.