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Stan's the man to fill vital role for Aces

22/ 8/2008

BELLE Vue Aces want new signing Stan Burza to play a key role in consolidating their mid-table position in the run-in to their Elite League campaign.

The experienced Pole, 30, will make his home debut in the crucial match against Wolverhampton next Wednesday (7 30pm).

But Burza will have two away matches under his belt by then, as he made a solid four-point start in the 50-31 defeat at league leaders Poole on Monday and is in the side to go to Wolverhampton next Monday.

Burza, released by Coventry, has returned to action following a back injury and has replaced Nick Simmons who found the step up to Elite League racing too hot to handle.

He is paired with young Swede Billy Forsberg at the bottom end of the One51 Aces’ team, and team boss Chris Morton is confident they will put a real sting in the tail.

Morton said: "Stan is a guy who knows what he’s doing and gets on with it. He will make us stronger for these matches in which we must do everything we can to consolidate our mid-table position.

"I was very disappointed with our performance at Poole at Monday when we didn’t give Jason Crump the right kind of support.

"We must do our best to keep Wolves down at the bottom, so it’s important we are strong at reserve. Burza and Forsberg should be able to give us that strength."

Fans under 16 will be admitted free for the home match against Wolverhampton if they are accompanied by an adult.

Patrick Hougaard, Belle Vue’s 19-year-old prospect, took a creditable second place in the Danish Under 21 final at Fjelsted on Sunday.

He dropped his only point in five qualifying races to Wolverhampton’s Nicolai Klindt who took maximum points to head the four riders who went forward to the final.

Morton said: "It was a fine effort by Patrick who is still only 19. He still has the World Under 21 final to come."

Jason Crump will be in two places at once next Monday night. He will be racing live for the Aces at Wolverhampton while starring on Channel Five’s Fifth Gear programme which goes out at 8pm.

He will be facing programme presenter and ex Formula One driver Tiff Needell who will be trying to beat him round Kirkmanshulme Lane in a dune buggy, a Formula One stock car, and a rally car.

Needell said: "Jason reckons no-one can beat him round Belle Vue from a standing start, so we took up the challenge. But people will have to watch the programme to see what happened."

Former Belle Vue captain Alan Wilkinson, in a wheelchair since being injured 30 years ago, has received another three-figure cheque following the £371 raised for him at the recent 80th anniversary meeting.

The money was raised by Aces' programme editor Eddie Garvey who put up an autographed helmet for auction.

It was bought by actor and fan Jason Done, star of the BBC TV series Waterloo Road.