THERE’S no rest for the wicked, as after an epic week of racing in the 2024 FIM Speedway of Nations the Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces resume their Premiership campaign at Oxford on July 18.
And the team will be feeling confident about their chances against the OXS Spires after the performances of several of their key riders on the world stage in Manchester.
SoN World Champion Dan Bewley and silver medallist Brady Kurtz will team up to lead the ATPI Aces at Sandy Lane as they eye up crucial league points to bolster their league ranking.
Oxford, meanwhile, are aiming to continue their unbeaten run to four meetings and further advance their place in the Premiership standings, where they currently sit fourth.
Two changes to the ATPI Aces line-up sees Antti Vuolas stand in for the injured Tate Zischke at No.6, who has now been discharged from hospital following his crash two weeks ago.
And Jake Mulford substitutes for outgoing Rising Star Connor Bailey, who recently announced he would be sitting out of the remainder of the British League season.
Aces supremo Mark Lemon, who led Team Australia to silver in Saturday’s Speedway of Nations and to bronze in Friday’s Speedway of Nations 2, says his boys are ready to get back to business.
He said: “Last week was a very long week that saw the culmination of months of hard work to bring the Speedway of Nations to Manchester and it truly was an amazing event.
“But there’s not much time to decompress and consolidate those events because we’re right back into our Premiership campaign and have another busy few days ahead of us.
“We have a great opportunity to close the gap on Ipswich on Thursday, but after our last visit to Oxford we know it won’t be an easy task though this time we will know better what to expect.
“The Spires are looking string at home but we pushed them right to the end last time out, and there’s no reason to suggest that we can’t improve ourselves this time around.”
The ATPI Aces head to Oxford’s Sandy Lane on Thursday, July 18 before picking up their home campaign against the Spires at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, July 22.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes, hospitality and south stand parking are now available to pre-book online at bellevue-speedway.com/events.
OXFORD v BELLE VUE – MONDAY, JULY 15 @ 7:30PM [P2]
Oxford ‘OXS’ Stars: Rohan Tungate 7.43, Drew Kemp 4.45, Maciej Janowski 6.04, Charles Wright 6.27, Chris Harris (C) 6.33, Erik Riss 4.30, Ashton Boughen (RS); TM: Peter Schroek
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Brady Kurtz (C) 8.87, Norick Blodorn 5.20, Jaimon Lidsey 7.58, Ben Cook 6.57, Dan Bewley 8.13, Antti Vuolas (G) 4.57, Jake Mulford (G) RS; TM: Mark Lemon
Image: ©Belle Vue Speedway