BELLE VUE have revealed the side that they hope will go one better and win the National Development League in 2025.
The Cool Running Colts finished runners-up last season but still needed to shed almost 11 points from the total team average.
It meant concluding with the league’s highest combined average of 48.97, leaving bosses Stephen Williams and Graham Goodwin with a major headache to get back below the 38-point limit for 2025.
But despite the challenge, five riders from 2024 will return next year to don the iconic Belle Vue racesuit.
Fifteen-year-old sensation William Cairns was confirmed as the Colts No.1 for the 2025 season by CEO Mark Lemon at the recent “Christmas Cracker” social event.
Cairns came into the side on an 18-month contract after turning 15 at the end of June, and was an instant hit, racking up a string of huge scores to finish on an incredible 10.22 average.
He will be joined again by 2024 skipper Freddy Hodder, who has been a mainstay of the Colts side since 2022, having been spotted at an experience day at the National Speedway Stadium the previous winter.
Also returning from last season are 21-year-old Chad Wirtzfeld and 20-year-old Harry McGurk, whilst Oldham-born local lad Jack Shimelt is another returnee.
New faces come in the shape of Mason Watson who joins from Edinburgh, and Ellesmere Port-based teenager Billy Budd who will be making his NDL debut.
Colts co-team manager Stephen Williams said: “It was quite a challenge to get back down below the 38-point limit, but we think we’ve got a young team with a good balance.
“Will Cairns and Freddy Hodder will give us one of the strongest spearheads in the league, and with Chad Wirtzfeld, Harry McGurk and Mason Watson, we have three riders who will be pushing each other for the third heat leader spot.
“Harry had a torrid time in 2023, but there were real signs of him getting his mojo back last year, and we know from previous seasons the level he is capable of getting back to.
“Injury meant we didn’t see enough of Chad last season, but we saw enough to see his potential. We wanted him back, and thankfully he was just as keen to come back.
“Mason has been in touch practically every day since the end of the season, wanting to come to us.
“He made a good impression the way he battled in a guest booking last season, and we feel he fits in very well with the balance of the side.”
“We’re pleased to have two relatively-local, young lads at reserve, and again we can see them having their own private battle to establish who will be the senior reserve.”
The 2025 Belle Vue 'Cool Running' Colts
William Cairns - Age 15 (29.06.2009) Ave 10.22
Freddy Hodder - Age 18 (18.04.2006) Ave 7.11
Chad Wirtzfeld - Age 21 (21.08.2003) Ave 5.20
Mason Watson - Age 24 (07.08.2000) Ave 4.82
Harry McGurk - Age 20 (04.03.2004) Ave 4.51
Jack Shimelt - Age 20 (09.09.2004) Ave 3.00
Billy Budd - Age 17 (10.09.2007) Ave 3.00