TEAM boss Peter Schroeck believes King’s Lynn’s reshaped side has what it takes to turn the corner despite a 51-38 defeat at home to Belle Vue.
The Minors and Brady Stars endured another damaging opening in which they were subjected to back-to-back 5-1s in the first two heats and found themselves 21-9 down after five races against the rampant Aces.
Thomas Jorgensen offered the most fight early on and despite one last place he top scored with a creditable 12. Home debutant Richard Lawson recovered from a shaky opening ride to register 10-paid-11 from five outings.
But while those efforts always looked likely to be in vain, particularly with Dan Bewley on red-hot form for the visitors, a heat advantage led by Lewis Kerr in heat 14 and Jorgensen and Lawson teaming up for King’s Lynn’s only maximum of the night showed a glimpse of promise.
“You can’t take away much at the minute but there were some glimpses, especially heat 15,” said Schroeck.
“We had a good chat in the pits after heat nine, there had been a lot of rushing around with us worried about the weather and the possibility of rain so there was not much time to have a proper chat.
“Once we got together we fired them up a little bit and suddenly we turned it around a bit.
“There were a couple of good races. Lewis showed he could do it, especially when you think he has only been back two weeks from his operation. He did well.
“Connor (Mountain) showed in his last race what he could do. It was a tough night for Erik (Riss), he blew an engine and crashed, I think he had everything possible thrown at him.
“We are very disappointed but we have to pick ourselves up, that’s all we can do. It is still early in the season,we have to keep going and going until we are up there. I think we have a team that can do that.”
The ranks will be bolstered by Cameron Heeps when high-flying Peterborough visit the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday (7.30) with Schroeck looking forward to seeing his all-action style.
“Hopefully he can bring us a bit of power in the middle order and we can go from there,” he added.
“Cam is a trier, he is good in the pits and has been around for a while.
“He was a major player for Ipswich in their success in 2019 so I am hoping he can bring that to King’s Lynn. He is looking forward to the challenge.”
THE FULL STORY…
Just as in matches against Ipswich and Wolverhampton this season, the hosts conceded a string of 5-1s early-doors with Thomas Jorgensen’s heat three win the only success in the first four races.
With recent signings still adapting to new surroundings, there was added frustration that guest Broc Nicol, who had scored 13-paid-14 on the same track for Wolves a month ago, was unable to reach anything like that level this time around.
The battling Jorgensen led most of the Stars’ resistance but ran a last place as a tactical substitute ride in heat seven as Richard Lawson took a welcome win over former British champion Charles Wright.
After conceding maximum points again in heat eight, the home side had to wait two more races for their first advantage, given to them by a win for Erik Riss – who was scoreless in his other three outings, including a tangle with Aces youngster Tom Brennan – and Ricky Wells in third place.
But Belle Vue were still motoring towards a maximum haul of league points, which they duly secured with a 4-2 in heat 13 although Lawson had the minor satisfaction of splitting Brady Kurtz and sensational British youngster Dan Bewley.
And despite a consolation heat 15 5-1 from Jorgensen and Lawson over the imperious Bewley and Kurtz, it was a tough night for the Stars.
KING’S LYNN 38: Thomas Jorgensen 12, Richard Lawson 10+1, Lewis Kerr 5+2, Ricky Wells 4, Broc Nicol 3+1, Erik Riss 3, Connor Mountain 1.
BELLE VUE 51: Dan Bewley 11, Brady Kurtz 9, Richie Worrall 8+2, Steve Worrall 8+1, Jye Etheridge 8+1, Charles Wright 5+1, Tom Brennan 2+1.
