Boughen Stars, But Colts Stay Perfect At Home

Belle Vue Colts 54-36 Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

Friday evening saw the Belle Vue Colts jump up into second place of the National Development league table, after a 54-36 win over the Edinburgh Monarchs Academy at the National Speedway Stadium. Despite having the likes of James Pearson and Jack Smith looking for maximums, it was to be the impressive performance of one Ashton Boughen who took the attention in Manchester. As having gone unbeaten in his British Youth Championship round beforehand to be crowned overall champion, he then went on to score 16 points guesting for Edinburgh.

The Scottish club were missing four riders from their line up, to which they needed three guest riders to come in and help out, as well as rider replacement in operation for the Monarchs Academy’s cause. Belle Vue went ahead through an awarded 5-1 in the opening race, following Connor Coles falling off on the third bend, while Dayle Wood also fell off on the first turn after the red lights came to stop the race.

Heat 2 saw a couple of brilliant races involving Mickie Simpson of Edinburgh and Luke Muff of the Colts, as the first run saw Paul Bowen taking evasive action to avoid running into the back of Dayle Wood and bit the dust. While in the rerun, it saw another fun race involving Muff and Simpson again, as the two passed and repassed each other over the half the race before Muff took victory and celebrated in his own inimitable way. Aston Boughen and Sam Hagon had their own little two match races of sorts, as following Mark Parker falling off on the third bend, it saw Boughen and Hagon fighting for first once again with the guest rider using the outside line to good effect to win.

While most NDL sides at the NSS would have been almost dead and buried by Heat 5, the Scots were still in it, but a 5-1 from Sam Hagon and Freddy Hodder in Heat 5 and a then a 4-2 from James Pearson and Matt Marson in Heat 6 began to see the hosts starting to pull away. A somewhat surprising 4-2 from Max Clegg and Mickie Simpson in Heat 9 saw them back in with a sniff at eight points down, but the Colts would then start to take over the meeting and turn the screw on their opponents. Following a pair of 4–2 race advantages from firstly Pearson and Marson, then Captain Jack Smith and Paul Bowen – of who struggled all evening for speed – they took the scoreline onto 39-27 and saw them nearing victory.

The hosts then recorded back to back 5-1’s in Heat 12 and 13, as they took the match and bonus point too. Boughen claimed his third race victory of the meeting in Heat 14, as well as his eighth of the evening, following his five wins beforehand in the Youth Championship. The talented youngster then finished his successful nights’ work with another race win in Heat 15, as he dashed hopes of both Smith and Clegg recording maximum’s with Max Clegg coming third for a 4-2.

If truth be told, the scoreline would arguably have been far greater in favour of the home side if not for the stunning performance of Ashton Boughen. As despite glimpses from Simpson and Clegg, there wasn’t too much coming from the Edinburgh side in the match. For the Colts, that win makes it five out of five at home and illustrates their dominance at home, as they’ve also collected every bonus point to date so far with four out of four. However, their final three meetings will test both their home and bonus point records, as they face arguably the two top sides in the league this season, with the new-boys in the Workington Comets upcoming home and away, before they sign off in September against the Leicester Lion Cubs.

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Belle Vue Colts = 54 (94)

1. James Pearson – 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 = 14
2. Matt Marson – 2′, 1, 1′, 1 = 5+2
3. Sam Hagon – 2, 3, 2, 3 = 10
4. Freddy Hodder – 1′, 2′, 0, 2 = 5+2
5. Jack Smith – 3, 3, 3, 2′, 0 = 11+1
6. Paul Bowen – F/X, 0, 1, 1′ = 2+1
7. Luke Muff – 3, 0, 2, 2′ = 7+1

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy = 36 (86)

1. Connor Coles (G) – F/X, 1, R = 1
2. Alex Spooner R/R (DW – 1, MP – 0, AB – 3, MS – 2 = 6)
3. Mark Parker (G) – F/X, 0, 0 = 0
4. Ashton Boughen (G) – 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3 = 16
5. Max Clegg – 2, 2, 3, 1, 1 = 9
6. Mickie Simpson – 2, 0, 1′, 1, 2, 0, 0 = 6+1
7. Dayle Wood – 1, 1′, 1′, 0, 1, 0 = 4+2