CS ELITE LEAGUE PREVIEW: Aces and Eagles clash in must win match
It’s all eyes on Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton on Sunday, as joint league leaders Ipswich Eagles visit Wednesfield Aces, in a crucial must win match in round 7.
Ipswich kept the heat on Horspath in round 6 with a convincing win over Coventry at the Whitton Raceway, while Wednesfield had their turn to sit out the round.
A win for the Aces would see them join Ipswich and Horspath at the top of the table, with the Hammers not in action in round 7. Ipswich meanwhile will sit at the top of the table outright if they can conjure up a rare win at Ashmore Park.
Cody Chadwick leads Paul Heard, who is challenged by Ashley Hill in round 2 of the 2016 Elite League series. Photo by Andrew Parr.
Notoriously difficult to come away with any points for any team, Ashmore Park is one of the longest Cycle Speedway tracks around, with long, wide bends making passing more difficult than most tracks.
The Eagles have the potential to cause an upset with their array of talented riders, but it’s the lower order where the match will be won. The Aces do not give an inch from rider 1 to rider 8, Ipswich simply must make it happen.
The Aces will be without the services of talisman, Lee Aris, who has been sidelined for 12 weeks with a back injury, which sees him miss next weekend’s European Championships in Poole.
The Eagles will most likely be at full strength for their biggest match of the season.
2016 CS Elite League Series | League Table
| P | W | D | L | PD | TOTAL | |
| Horspath | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 6 |
| Ipswich | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 6 |
| Wednesfield | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Coventry | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -41 | 4 |
| Poole | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -108 | 2 |
Early pace setters, Coventry, have stood still after two early wins against Ipswich and Poole in April. They have not managed a win since Australian Bobby McMillan returned home to Adelaide in May.
Myke Grimes’ men wil fancy their chances on making it a double against Poole on their home shale at Hearsall Common and are expected to field a full side, except for question marks over the involvement of Polish flyer, Michal Sassek, who missed the trip to Ipswich.
Poole have been weakened, like Coventry, by Ty Geertsen’s return to Australia. They still boast a formidable top end, with Polish riders, Greg Gluchowski, Matiej Ganczarek and Dawid Bas leading their charge, making the match by no means a foregone conclusion.
Poland’s Dawid Bas will race for Poole.
It promises to be an even match, which could go down to the wire. Poole would love to be back in the mix and level with Coventry on points at the end of the day, while Coventry will be hoping to haul themselves back into contention, although their title hopes are all but over after three losses on the trot.
If you want to catch the action this weekend, head over to Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton to see the top of the table clash between Wednesfield Aces and Ipswich Eagles, while close and entertaining match is also in prospect at Hearsall Common, Coventry for Coventry v Poole.
Tapes up for both matches at 2pm.