AFTER a short break in racing, the Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces are ready to go again this Bank Holiday Monday, May 1 against the Leicester Lions at the National Speedway Stadium, tapes up at 12pm.
The reigning Premiership Champions have won their last four meetings, including away against the Watling JCB Lions that saw the ATPI Aces bag the 45-45 win after a tense Super Heat.
It means both sides have it all to play for when they meet in Manchester to kick off a very busy May schedule at home for the club, and the boys are determined to make it a strong start.
Both teams will be at full strength for this hotly anticipated clash which sees the return of former Aces captain and No.1 Max Fricke, who made the switch to Leicester over the winter.
The opposition have enjoyed a consistent start to the season and have big ambitions for their journey to the National Speedway Stadium where they hope to repay the compliment to the ATPI Aces.
The home boys, meanwhile, are looking to further build on the brilliant form that has seen them surge to the top of the Premiership table and establish their strength on home shale.
Club Rising Star Jake Mulford said: “It’s been a massive step up for me into the Premiership but it’s something I really want to make the most of because I know how beneficial it is to my development.
“It was a close match away against the Lions. I only scored 1 but I felt good on the bike, I had speed, and I was right behind them, and I think that is why I’m in a very positive mind set about everything.
“It’ll be a different story come Monday and I know those boys will be looking to pay us back, and they’ve got some very experienced guys who know and like this track so it won’t be easy.
“But I think that if we can continue to build on the form that we have found lately we can get the job done, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there and putting in more laps.
“Having a lot of home meetings in succession will be a big help. When you’re travelling you’ve got to contend with so many different tracks and set-ups that it can be a bit overwhelming.
“But with more regular home meetings it’ll give me the chance to get to grips with the NSS and hopefully it’ll start to feel much more like a home track to me, and hopefully the points will follow.”
The ATPI return to action at home this Monday, May 1 against the Leicester Lions for another big bank holiday bash, tapes up at 12pm.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes, south stand parking and hospitality are now available to pre-book online at bellevue-speedway.com.
BELLE VUE V LEICSTER – MONDAY, MAY 1 @ 12PM [P1]
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Dan Bewley 8.46, Norick Blodorn 5.50, Tom Brennan 5.71, Charles Wright 6.92, Brady Kurtz (C) 8.11, Jaimon Lidsey 5.16, Jake Mulford (RS); TM: Mark Lemon
Leicester ‘Watling JCB’ Lions: Max Fricke 8.27, Justin Sedgmen 4.98, Richard Lawson 7.71, Chris Harris 7.64, Nick Morris 6.71, Jake Allen 4.00, Dan Thompson (RS); TM: Stuart Dickson
Aggregate Scores After Leicester Meeting: 45-45
Image: Eddie Garvey