Ford fears entering the Lyons den (From Bournemouth Echo)

Ford fears entering the Lyons den

7:00am Monday 19th May 2008 in

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PIRATES chief Matt Ford believes Jason Lyons - one of Belle Vue's favourite sons - could be a major threat to their hopes of going top of the Elite League.

The 37-year-old Aussie is tonight set for an emotional return to Kirkmanshulme Lane when he guests for the injury-hit Aces against the high-flying Dorset outfit (7.30pm).

Lyons, dubbed Mr Belle Vue for his 13 years' loyal service to the club, left in 2005 and is currently in a rich vein of form with Premier League Birmingham.

The former Grand Prix rider and World Cup winner, who had a brief spell with Pirates in 2004, has been drafted in to cover for Aces' injured second string Billy Forsberg.

Ford told the Daily Echo: "We're going with confidence but I would prefer that we weren't coming up against Jason Lyons who is a very accomplished rider.

"He was a very talented rider in his day. He moved into the Premier League and has sustained being at the top of that level for the past couple of years.

"He's on good form and is continuing his career at a high level. When these guys come back into the Elite League for a meeting or two, they want to show they are still capable of turning it on.

"Jason will have a point to prove and will want to show the speedway fraternity that he's still capable of holding his own. He will certainly be able to score some points.

"But we are riding on confidence as well and are capable of winning the meeting. There will be no excuses and we have to go there to do a job."

Pirates's bid for a home triumph over the Aces was thwarted by the weather five days ago when the Wimborne Road clash was rained off after six races with Poole leading 24-12.

Victory for Poole in Manchester would see them leapfrog Swindon and also complete a hat-trick of away wins following recent successes at Peterborough and Eastbourne.

Pirates star Chris Holder, who scored heavily in the two away wins, told the Daily Echo: "Things are supposed to come in threes and there is no reason why we can't win there."

Holder, meanwhile, will again be hoping to lower the colours of ex-Pirates spearhead Jason Crump on his own patch, having beaten him when they locked horns at Kirkmanshulme Lane in April.

"I managed to get one over him last time I was there and it would be nice to do it again," added Holder, who lists Crump as his favourite rider on his website profile. "I'll be trying as hard as I can but he's awesome around there."

Holder added: "It was a bit wet and the track was a little bit tricky the last time I was there so hopefully it will be drier this time. Everybody is going pretty well at the moment and we're on a roll so we've got every chance of winning."

Belle Vue, who beat Pirates 50-43 in April, will use rider replacement for injured second string Lukasz Jankowski, while new signing Jonas Raun keeps his place at reserve.

Belle Vue: 1 Jason Crump, 2 (guest) Jason Lyons, 3 Charlie Gjedde, 4 Rider replacement for Lukasz Jankowski, 5 Joe Screen, 6 Robert Ksiezak, 7 Jonas Raun.

Pirates: 1 Krzysztof Kasprzak, 2 Freddie Eriksson, 3 Chris Holder, 4 Magnus Zetterstrom, 5 Davey Watt, 6 Daniel Davidsson, 7 Adam Skornicki.