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Dream Team: Ian Roberts
First fell in love with the sights sounds and smell
of speedway back in 1988 aged 5. Sadly too young to experience the magic
of the old Belle Vue. To me though the home they shared with the
greyhound racing was still an awesome sight.
I remember not
understanding the scoring system so would cheer the rider in red in heat
1 blue in 2 white in 3 y/b in 4 then repeat the process over till heat 15
when I picked anybody I wanted in the hope of gaining 50p! (Good old
Grandad).
Seen some excellent riders and racing on this track as I've
grown up and will always remember the weekend double headers with
Bradford. After growing up at Kirkmanshulme Lane, the first time walking
into Odsal really took my breath away, sadly the death of speedway there
I feel has left a massive hole for Belle Vue and its fans, without a local
rival we're stuck 'up North' in the Elite league.
My team is going to
made up of riders from 1988 onwards but I'll try to keep it from
becoming a Belle Vue dominated team and pick 7 of the best I've seen
there. Sadly by the end it may appear I've
failed.
 | | Joe Screen |
Jan O
Pedersen
Growing up at a time when the Danes ruled the world
of Speedway there was something to me about Jan O Pedersen compared with
Nielsen and Gundersen. When asked to pick the best race I've seen at
Belle Vue I always have two in my mind and Jan O vs Joe Screen is one of
them. Was the first non Belle Vue rider I became a fan of.
Jason Lyons
Mr Belle Vue himself. Dragged us out
of the dirt so many times. Around Belle Vue you'd always put your money
on Jason to get the 3 points. His race vs Tony Rickardsson is the other
one that always stands out in my mind. Never made a fuss or went looking
for praise just got on his bike and gave his all for a team that most of
the time needed more like him.
Gary Havelock
To me
Mr Bradford, as I said before I always loved the double headers against
Bradford - the battle of the roses. Gary stands out as the Bradford rider
that I used to enjoy booing the most. (in the nicest way) But that
compettiive marketing and spirit helped make our derby grudge match.
He
was never dirty or aggressive against Belle Vue that I can remember but
at the time I felt it was my job to boo him. Bradford to somebody who
never saw the old Belle Vue always seem so much bigger and better than
Belle Vue (let's face it, it was) so it was always nice to get one over on the
(to me) bigger club. As much as I liked to boo Gary and the rest of the
Bradford riders they were all brillant in signing autographs for us kids
and the access to the riders and to be able to see the bikes being
prepared before a meeting is something that should be encouraged in
future tracks.
Joe Screen
A rider who I was lucky
enough to see come in to the Belle Vue team as a teenager who rode like
he had no fear in the world. Seemed a natural from the moment he put the
Aces jacket on, sadly never reached the heights we thought he would do
but put on some of the best races and passing moves around Belle Vue that
you'll ever see but sadly suffered the British gating curse. I remember
feeling shocked when he signed for Bradford having to boo somebody that
lives in the same town as you is hard!
Jason
Crump
It's hard to say something that hasn't already been said about Belle Vue's
last world champion. Still the track record holder and if the new
stadium is completed will be forever in Belle Vue folklore. Home or away
Jason was gave us his best, our heat leader winning races. Sadly his
decision to come back to Belle Vue cost him an injury that took him a long
time to recover from which as a GP rider is never something you need.
He's a
true professional, gentlemen, has times for the fans and will be a part
of the history of Belle Vue for a long time.
Hans
Nielsen
To me the most professional speedway rider I've ever
seen. If there was qualification at GCSE, A-Level, Degree etc in
speedway Hans would of got A* in then all. Gating, passing, tactical
riding all first class. I dont think there was ever a Hans Nielsen race
I saw that I didn't think he could win. Seemed to be at one with the
bike for 4 laps as if it was what he was put here to
do.
Roland Danno
The Super Swede reserve! Double
figures seem to be the norm for Roland at reserve. Aas my first
'favourite' rider as a kid and only seem right to have him at number 7.
Submit Your Own Dream Team
This article was first published on 13th January 2013
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