EAGLES ARE ACED!

MONDAY night proved an evening more fitting for ducks as the Eastbourne Eagles' journey to Manchester ended prematurely with the Belle Vue Aces holding a 44-30 lead at the end of heat 12.

Persistent drizzle, that had threatened the fixture throughout the dozen races, finally won the day as meeting referee David Dowling had seen enough and duly took heed of riders' concerns and called a halt to proceedings.

With the match having reached a point where the result would stand, it seemed a sensible solution not to put the riders at any further risk and the Mancunian outfit will now travel to Sussex with a healthy looking 14-point lead in search of the aggregate bonus point when the teams reconvene at Arlington on September 2.

Grand Prix leader Jason Crump continued his winning run against Eastbourne '“ three wins on Monday to follow the six he scored at Arlington earlier in the month.

He received plenty of support from former Eagle Joe Screen while Belle Vue youngster James Wright was delighted to pip Eagles' star Nicki Pedersen in heat nine.

Pedersen got the drop on Wright on the run down the back straight and Simon Stead duly tucked in behind his partner to safeguard the 3-3. The final bend saw Pedersen go wide, however and, almost unbelievably Wright slipped through on his inside to snatch the win.

The heavy drizzle was becoming increasingly persistent and this was borne out by Crump's winning time in heat 11, at 64.7 a full 5.5 seconds slower than his fourth race effort. Norris took second place and the 4-points from his tactical ride but he made his feelings on the conditions clear.

Post race he pulled up at the finish line, waved the red and black flags at the referee's box before throwing them down in disgust.

Scorers :

Aces: Joe Screen 11(4), Simon Stead 10(4), Jason Crump 9(3), Kenneth Bjerre 4+2(3), James Wright 4(3), Tom P. Madsen 3+1(4), Phil Morris 3(3). '“ 44

Eagles: Kevin Doolan (guest) 7+1(4), Nicki Pedersen 7(3), David Norris 7(3), Dean Barker 5(3), Adam Shields 2+2(3), Joel Parsons (Guest) 2+1(4), Lewis Bridger 0(4).

On Saturday the Eagles thrashed Arena-Essex 62-32. The visitors fielded a five-man team.

Already using rider replacement for Joonas Kylmakorpi, they were rocked by guest Billy Janniro pulling out of the fixture on the morning of the match. They were unable to find a replacement.

Norris, Pedersen and Adam Shields were all unbeaten by an opponent.

Eagles: Shields 15(5), Norris 13+2(5), Pedersen 12(4), Barker 8+2(4), Bridger 6(4), Phillips (Guest) 6+1(5), Cameron Woodward 2+1(3).

Eastbourne face Peterborough at Arlington on Friday, June 23. First race: 7.45pm.