KING’S Lynn will contest British speedway’s ultimate meeting for the first time after seeing off spirited Belle Vue 103-77 for a place in the SGB Premiership Grand Final.
The Tru Plant Stars, already eight to the good having fought back from 10 down in the first leg, opened with a pair of 5-1s and never looked back on a jubilant night at the Adrian Flux Arena.
British champion and talisman Robert Lambert led the way, winning his opener en route to a four-ride paid maximum that left the outcome in no doubt to set up a clash of the titans with heavyweights Poole Pirates for the 2018 title.
“I am very proud,” said team boss Dale Allitt.
“We said all year that we wanted to put the pride back into the club and the fans to feel that. Hopefully we have done it but there is a lot more to do yet.
“We keep breaking records. The club had never finished top or got to a play-off final at this level but we will stay very grounded.”
Magnanimous Allitt was quick to recognise the ill fortune Belle Vue had suffered along the way while also paying tribute to his own injured stars Kasper Andersen and Lewis Kerr.
“I would like to add a word for Belle Vue. We have been there with injuries when we lost Niels and other riders in the past, it is just horrible because you cannot react to it,” he added.
“They threw everything at us early doors and I always knew it would be difficult. I don’t think the score represented the meeting, we hit two 5-1s and a 4-2 in the final three races.
“Their heads had probably dropped a bit by then but that’s human nature, they knew it was game over.
“Kasper has been around all the time and at away matches as a mechanic, while Lewis has been a regular presence despite having a cast on.
“They have been a big part in this year. If it wasn’t for those guys we wouldn’t be where we are and you should never forget things like that.
“We are all about our team ethic, that’s what we’re built on.”
Now the real crunch comes against the Pirates who are fresh from a rousing finale to win a last-heat decider against Somerset.
The first leg takes place at Wimborne Road on Monday, October 8 with the decider at the Adrian Flux Arena on Wednesday, October 10 (both 7.30).
In the meantime, Allitt confessed it would be difficult to enjoy what has been achieved so far.
“I think we all put a lot of pressure on ourselves to push on and do well. That’s what makes you the person you are,” he said.
“I am incredibly proud to be the manager of a club I have been at for a long time, I have put in a lot of work with the youth set-up and now the senior side.
“It is great and nice to go forward being a little bit happier about the place we are in today.”
HEAT BY HEAT
Robert Lambert helped Lynn stamp their authority from the off, finishing just half a second short of the track record with Erik Riss in support in heat one.
That shot in the arm came in a double dose with Michael Palm Toft trapping and Simon Lambert soaring up the inside of Aces guest Coty Garcia who ran wide on turn two of lap two.
Steve Worrall shrugged off a pointless start to take heat three but the Stars comfortably packed the minor places.
Niels-Kristian Iversen suffered a fuel leak at tapes in his opener before Tobiasz Musielak won at a canter, although Simon Lambert and Palm Toft secured another 3-3 in the fourth.
Belle Vue hit back when Garcia emerged from a four-abreast first turn to win the fifth with Max Fricke holding off Ty Proctor’s pursuit of second.
Robert Lambert had to be resolute on the inside to force out Musielak and lead a 4-2 and while Iversen retired with conditions too grippy for his set-up, Palm Toft eased to victory in a 3-3 in the seventh.
The game was as good as up when Riss bombed around the outside from gate four with Simon Lambert surviving a wobble to take second and secure an 18-point cushion after eight.
Dimitri Berge just about held on to his bucking bike to lead home Musielak in heat nine as the Aces hit back but Robert Lambert steamed from third to first with initial leader Riss bagging a fourth Stars maximum in reply.
Iversen’s miserable night continued when he burst the tapes and Belle Vue made hay with Musielak and Fricke doubling up at the front in heat 11.
But Proctor won heat 12 to guarantee Lynn’s safe passage and Iversen then bounced back by firing around the outside of a tight first bend with Robert Lambert fighting for second from the back to protect his unblemished record on the night.
Jorgensen won heat 14 and then supported Riss to cap the success in style with a 5-1 to finish.
KING'S LYNN 54 (103): Erik Riss 11+2, Robert Lambert 11+1, Michael Palm Toft 9+1, Simon Lambert 7+2, Thomas Jorgensen 7+1, Ty Proctor 6+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 3.
BELLE VUE 36 (77): Tobiasz Musielak 11+1, Steve Worrall 8, Max Fricke 6+2, Coty Garcia 5, Rohan Tungate 3+1, Dimitri Berge 3, Craig Cook r/r.
