BELLE Vue team boss Chris Morton is backing Stockport rider James Wright and Dane Ulrich Ostergaard to play key roles in the bid to land the Elite League Knockout Cup, the FA Cup of speedway.
Both riders hit top form as the One51 Aces crushed Poole 54-41 at home on Monday to win their quarter-final 103-85 on aggregate and set up an attractive last four clash with old rivals Coventry.
Wright, 23, beat Grand Prix star Hans Andersen on his way to ten points while Ostergaard came through a lean spell with a fiery display for eight.
Morton said: “We have seen Wright mature in the last few meetings. I think it started to happen in the first leg of this Knockout Cup tie when he surprised everyone by winning the first heat at Poole ahead of Andersen on his home track.
“I think that since then his belief in himself has started to come through and he showed that by beating Andersen again on Monday. He has been showing a lot of aggression and determination in recent matches.
“He was very disappointed when he only scored three against Lakeside recently but I told him he had ridden well without any luck on that occasion. Now he has been getting his rewards with performances which will be boosting his confidence.”
Wright has filled the tough No 2 slot for much of the season which partners him with the high-speed Krzysztof Kasprzak, the new captain following the loss of Charlie Gjedde for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Morton added: “It hasn't been easy for James because Krzysztof came into the side determined to stamp his mark on the team.
“He isn't the easiest guy to ride with because he is so fast and determined to get out in front. But James has dealt well with the problem of being partnered with him and they are working much better together now.
“Krzysztof has needed time to get used to Belle Vue but now he is looking for his partner much more when the situation allows it. Obviously he cannot do it if he is battling with one of the opposition's big guns but the pair of them have a good record for taking full points together.”
Ostergaard has struggled to reproduce the form which put him at the top of the Premier League averages last season.
Morton added: “Ulrich is clearly a racer, which is something we love at Belle Vue, but he's not had a great season until now.
“There have been times when you have wondered where has it all gone, has his ability deserted him. But then he went out against Poole on Monday and we saw the kind of stuff he can do.”
The Aces are still negotiating a date for the home leg of the semi-final but will go to Coventry on Friday, August 21.
They return to Elite League duty at Kirkmanshulme Lane next Monday (7 30) when table-topping Swindon will return in the hope of repeating their recent win over the Aces.
Morton added: “We need a repeat of the display we put on in the cup because Swindon are a side with great strength in depth.”
The Aces expect to bring in former rider Jason Lyons, now with Birmingham, as a guest replacement for Billy Forsberg.
The loss of Gjedde means the club are redoubling their efforts to bring in a top rider, especially now they have the KO Cup in their sights.
Aces chief David Gordon said: “We are continuing to try to bring in a new man. That situation hasn't changed because Gjedde has been forced to end his season through injury or because we are in the semi-final.
“The best time to have had a new man would have been for last Monday's tie but it wasn't possible, either because of the cost or because many riders don't want to join a British club who race on a Monday.
“We are continuing to look at the situation, even though it means we will have to go back to riders we've approached already.”
John McGuinness, the Isle of Man TT superstar who is a regular spectator at Belle Vue, will have his bike on display at the league match against Coventry on August 10.

Official Press Release
Richard Frost