Rory Schlein (white), Peter Karlsson (red), Lee Richardson (blue) and Adam Shields (yellow) race in heat 13 at Purfleet (Rob Newell/TGS)

Karlsson top scores against Aces

Elite League

Lakeside Hammers 61 Belle Vue Aces 32

Lakeside got their Elite League season off to a perfect start with a comfortable win against Belle Vue Aces last night.

They took the lead in the third heat and never looked back from there as they proved too strong for their Manchester visitors, who lost Dane Patrick Hougaard to a suspected broken collarbone in heat seven.

The Hammers produced from top to bottom, with new boys Peter Karlsson and Davey Watt leading by example and top scored with paid 14 and 13 respectively, while reserve Kim Nilsson was undefeated by a Belle Vue rider all night from his four rides.

Watt and Robert Mear steered Lakeside to the first of six maximums in heat three, with the Aces only gaining one heat advantage all night and that came by the way of Australian number one Rory Schlein’s tactical ride win in heat 11.

Former Hammer Adam Shields enjoyed a miserable night at his former track, scoring just five points from his four rides.

Hammers 61: Peter Karlsson 13+1 bonus point (from five rides), Kauko Nieminen 9 +2 (4), Davey Watt 11+2 (5), Robert Mear 6+1 (4), Lee Richardson 7+1 (4), Justin Sedgmen 4+1 (4), Kim Nilsson 11+1 (4)

Aces 32: Rory Schlein 13 (5), Chris Schramm 1 (4), Patrick Hougaard 1 (2), Charlie Gjedde 7 (5), Adam Shields 5+1 (4), Hugh Skidmore 2+1 (4) Linus Eklof 3 (6).