WELCOME to the weekly bulletin of Elite League news, featuring items on all nine competing teams.
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton says the value of Jason Crump was immediately shown when the Aces were run close in their opening home fixture against Wolverhampton.
Morton said: "Having Jason back made all the difference. We were under pressure at times but we had what we were lacking last year, and that was a man who could win the big races.
"What we wanted first and foremost was to start with a win and we got it. We had a bit of luck and a bit of bad luck as well, so it balanced out but there's definitely room for improvement in some areas."
COVENTRY star Simon Stead said his heat thirteen win over Swindon skipper Leigh Adams at Brandon on Monday was a good tonic after he had struggled at Blunsdon the previous evening.
Stead said: "My home form has been good and it was pleasing to beat Leigh around here as he's a world class rider and someone who I rate really highly, so to get the better of him was nice.
"We've seen the things that we can improve on, the potential is there and hopefully we've finished with our gremlins and can get the confidence back."
EASTBOURNE star Edward Kennett has escaped injury after a spectacular crash in the Eagles' Good Friday clash with local rivals Poole.
Kennett required medical attention and withdrew from the meeting with a knock to his head and arm after the accident in his third ride.
He said: "It was a bad one and I've got a bit of a headache, but I'm feeling fine. I could ride tomorrow if I wanted to."
IPSWICH star Piotr Swiderski made a sensational return to the Showground as he dropped just 1-point from five rides in the Witches' narrow Craven Shield defeat at Peterborough.
Swiderski said: "It was very nice to come back to Peterborough and see the beautiful fans again – and it was also very good to get some points.
"Easter has been really good for me, as I got 14+2 at Lakeside on Friday and then another 14 back here at a track I really like. I know the fast lines from riding here."
LAKESIDE promoter Stuart Douglas says track conditions at both venues played a big part in Ipswich's shock win at Purfleet on Good Friday - just as the Hammers had stunned the Witches on their home shale earlier in the day.
Douglas said: "It was clear Ipswich struggled on their home track, which had not been watered in anticipation of the forecast rain.
"We, in turn, struggled tremendously on our sodden track after the hailstone storm of Biblical proportions destroyed the top surface. The net result of this is if you didn’t get out of the gate there was no racing line on which to pass an opponent.
"I'm just glad it's out of the way early in the season and it gives us a chance to learn some lessons."
PETERBOROUGH skipper Hans Andersen says the Panthers will get stronger with more racing under their belts after they just edged out Ipswich in a tense local derby on Easter Monday.
Andersen said: "We always knew it was going to be tough because Ipswich have strengthened up massively compared to the past couple of years, so the fact we won the meeting makes me happy.
"Ipswich came into the meeting having ridden far more than we had and time on the bike counts for a hell of a lot so early in the year."
POOLE are hoping for good news on the fitness of Karol Zabik as they prepare for important Craven Shield matches against Swindon.
Zabik suffered a wrist injury when he crashed at Wimborne Road on Good Friday, but he is expected to return against the Robins after practising in Poland.
Promoter Matt Ford said: "We had our best attendance of last season for the visit of Swindon, and the recent prediction that they will finish bottom of the league will serve as an incentive to them. I have no doubts it will be a tough ask to win by 10 points over the two meetings."
SWINDON collected the Elite Shield against Coventry over Easter and now need to outscore Poole by 13 points in home and away matches this week to progress in the Craven Shield.
Promoter Alun Rossiter said: "The confidence levels are improving all the time and we want to top our group in the Craven Shield. The lads are getting it together and there is a great spirit developing within the camp.
"We know what we have to do against Poole and everyone is up for it, make no mistake about that."
WOLVERHAMPTON owner Chris Van Straaten says there are promising signs from his team in the early stages of the season.
He said: “The new signings have done very well for us and although it was a disappointment to lose both Good Friday away meetings we have identified the problems.
“I believe it will be a very different story when we go to Belle Vue and Coventry in the Elite League.”
The Monmore men launch their Elite League campaign with a home meeting against a powerful Poole side next Monday, 31 March.
