IT’S Belle Vue’s final Premiership battle of the season before the 2023 Play Offs this Monday, August 28 when the ATPI Aces welcome Leicester to the National Speedway Stadium at 12pm.
A lot has changed for the Watling JCB since the two sides last met at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena in June, with several team changes for the visitors taking place in the subsequent months.
They currently hold the aggregate advantage at 52-38 in their favour, but the ATPI Aces will be doing everything they can to ensure the three league points come their way.
If successful, the home team will secure their place in top spot of the Premiership table while their rivals battle it out to decide second, third and fourth in the league.
Both sides are expected to be at full strength for this decisive clash, and team boss Mark Lemon has faith in his side to deliver the goods one final time before the defence of their title.
He said: “We couldn’t be wrapping up our fixtures ahead of the Play Offs with a more exciting match, and Leicester have proved one of the biggest surprise packages of the campaign.
“It was a difficult decision for us to see Max [Fricke] leave Belle Vue after so many years, but as a club asset it has been very rewarding to us to see how he has flourished in a new setting.
“I’m sure he will be coming back with a point to prove, and the Leicester team as a whole will be hoping to put in a shift and a half as they look to secure their Play Off place.
“Just because we’re already there doesn’t mean we’re letting up for a moment. We want to finish top of the table, and we want other clubs to know that we fully intend to defend our title.
“I have every confidence that this team can get the job done when the chequered flag falls, and we’re looking forward to a very exciting afternoon of racing.”
The ATPI Aces round off an extended bank holiday of racing with their final calendar fixture in the Premiership on Monday, August 28 against the Leicester Lions.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and hospitality are now available to pre-book at bellevue-speedway.com/events. South stand parking is sold out, but St. Peter’s School will be open on the day.
BELLE VUE V LEICESTER – MONDAY, AUGUST 28 @ 12PM [P2]
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Brady Kurtz (C) 8.04, Tom Brennan 6.07, Jaimon Lidsey 7.33, Charles Wright 6.65, Dan Bewley 7.49, Norick Blodorn 5.81, Connor Bailey RS; TM: Mark Lemon
Leicester ‘Watling JCB’ Lions: Max Fricke 8.91, Justin Sedgmen 6.12, Richie Worrall 5.77, Craig Cook 5.96, Richard Lawson 7.38, Jake Allen 4.09, Drew Kemp RS; TM: Stuart Dickson.
Aggregate Score: Belle Vue 38-52 Leicester
Image: Ian Charles