THE stage is set for another bank holiday scorcher, literally, as Belle Vue look to continue their strong run of form at the National Speedway Stadium against an ambitious Birmingham.
The two sides met last week at Perry Barr in the first Eurosport televised meeting of the season, which went down to a thrilling last-heat decider filled with controversy.
The exclusion of captain Brady Kurtz paved the way for the Curtis Sport Brummies to take their first ROWE Motor Oil Premiership win, while only sealing a marginal aggregate advantage.
On home shale, the ATPI Aces are yet to be defeated this season and are they are champing at the bit to set the record straight against their second-city rivals.
There are some familiar faces amongst the opposition, with former Belle Vue racers Steve Worrall and Tom Brennan with the Brummies, who also bring with them some vastly experienced riders.
Former Polish Grand Prix star Piotr Pawlicki spearheads the side with Czech charger Vaclav Milik taking up position in the reserve spot, and another Polish Ekstraliga rider Wiktor Lampert thrown in at No.4 for good measure.
After last week’s exciting encounter in the Midlands, Belle Vue supremo Mark lemon is expecting another fiercely contested match in Manchester.
He said: “Tomorrow’s league match couldn’t come quick enough after a challenging encounter at Perry Barr last Monday in front of the Eurosport cameras.
“The Brummies rode well and, after many narrow home losses, managed to take their first win for the season; unfortunately, at our expense.
“It wouldn’t be respectful if we didn’t say they deserved the victory, however we struggled to capitalise on our chances and I felt it was one meeting we let go.
“But what I did like about the team was the fact we learnt and took quite a few positives away with us which should put us in good stead for the rest of the season.
“It won’t be an easy match on Monday. Birmingham will be feeling confident of their chances but we have ambition as strong as theirs. It has all the makings of an excellent match.”
Our bank holiday bash against Birmingham kicks off a very busy, and crucial May calendar for the ATPI Aces, who first face the Brummies at home on May 6 at 12pm.
We then travel to Sheffield on Thursday, May 9 for our hotly anticipated second leg Knockout Cup Quarter Final clash with the TruPlant Tigers, with the winner on aggregate progressing.
And we return home on Monday, May 13 when we welcome the newly created Oxford Spires for our first encounter at the National Speedway Stadium, tapes up 7:30pm.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking are now available to pre-book, along with race day hospitality, at bellevue-speedway.com.
BELLE VUE V BIRMINGHAM – MONDAY, MAY 6 @ 12PM [P1]
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Brady Kurtz 8.72, (C), Norick Blödorn 5.68, Jaimon Lidsey 8.04, Ben Cook 5.85, Dan Bewley 8.13, Connor Mountain 4.54, Connor Bailey (RS); TM: Mark Lemon
Birmingham ‘Curtis Sport’ Brummies: Piotr Pawlicki 7.50, Steve Worrall (C) 6.14, Zach Cook 5.53, Wiktor Lampart 4.35, Tom Brennan 6.37, Vaclav Milik 4.33, Leon Flint RS; TM: Sam Ermolenko
Aggregate Score: Belle Vue 43-47 Birmingham
Image: ©Belle Vue Speedway