Danish racer Nicolai Klindt proved a star guest for Belle Vue as they sank Sheffield 53-37 to lift the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership title in Manchester on Friday night.
After winning the first leg 47-43 at Owlerton on Monday, the Aces lifted a league title on home shale for the first time in 54 years as they triumphed 100-80 on aggregate.
Stepping in for the injured Peter Kildemand, Klindt topped the Belle Vue scoring on 11 paid 12 points, while Aussie icon Jason Doyle added 11, German racer Norick Blodorn tallied 10 paid 12, Aussie star Zach Cook collected 10 paid 11 and skipper Brady Kurtz accrued eight paid nine.
Aussie action man Josh Pickering led the Sheffield score chart on eight paid nine, with guest Max Fricke scoring six paid eight.
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon was elated to seal a league championship in front of their home fans for the first time since 1972.
He said: “It has been a magic night. The fans have waited 54 years for this moment, to win a league championship at home, and I’m delighted that they didn’t go home disappointed!
“The support we’ve had has been amazing from the fans and the sponsors, and it has just been a really good year.
“Some years you win it and it’s by a little bit of luck and chance, but I think this year there are no excuses for anybody – we were the best team. It takes a long time to get here, and the hard work goes well and truly in prior to the season, but credit to our team.
“We lost Dan Bewley weeks into the season, which was a big blow, but we brought in Jason Doyle who has been tremendous, a great leader, and then obviously our captain Brady Kurtz has been outstanding. He rallies the troops and really settles the camp.
“All of our riders in our one to seven have improved, down to Will (Cairns) who has been a revelation as Rising Star. It has just been a fantastic season.”
Sheffield team manager Simon Stead was magnanimous in defeat. He said: “I think a silver medal is probably as good as we could’ve hoped for with the season that Belle Vue have had. They’ve been absolutely unbelievable all season and credit to them. They’ve been at the top all year and you can’t take anything away from them.
“After a positive opening couple of races, it quickly got away from us and of course we’re disappointed. We can’t really have too many complaints. It’s a shame we couldn’t run Belle Vue closer than we did, but as I said, we’ve been beaten by the better team and that’s just how it is.”