A replay of last year’s grand final launches the Speedway season at the National Speedway Stadium as the Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces host their first home fixture of 2023 against local rivals Sheffield on Monday, March 27.
The two teams met in the British Speedway season opener on Thursday, when the Yorkshire side’s late comeback secured them the 48-42 victory and the two league points.
But the ATPI Aces have the chance to even the score at home thanks to the new Premiership scoring system, which grants a bonus point to the team winning corresponding fixtures on aggregate.
The reigning Premiership champions turned the National Speedway Stadium into a fortress last season and Belle Vue captain Brady Kurtz is determined to repeat that success in the team’s title defence.
He said: “Of course, it feels nice to have that Premiership title next to our names and to see that trophy in the cabinet, but in our minds 2022 is now over.
“The job was completed and now there is a new task in front of us. I’d like nothing more than to be the captain of back-to-back champions.
“I always go to Sheffield expecting a tough meeting and they are, I think, one of the strongest teams so to come away with a 6-point defeat in the very first one, in difficult conditions, is nothing really.
“We’ve got a good foundation to build on and I think everyone is looking forward to racing at the National Speedway Stadium again, and we know we’ve got some top performers around there.
“I feel there are lots of positives for us to take into this meeting. Once we’ve settled in and got into a bit of a rhythm, I strongly believe the true potential of this team will come out.”
Belle Vue will look to repay Sheffield the compliment when they welcome the TruPlant Tigers to the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, March 27; tapes up at 7:30pm.
Meeting tickets, race day hospitality and south stand parking are available to reserve online via the club’s official website at bellevue-speedway.com.
BELLE VUE V SHEFFIELD – MONDAY, MARCH 27 @ 7:30PM
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Dan Bewley 8.91, Norick Blodorn 5.45, Jaimon Lidsey 5.16, Charles Wright 6.26, Brady Kurtz (C) 8.24, Tom Brennan 4.40, Jake Mulford (RS); TM: Mark Lemon
Sheffield ‘TruPlant’ Tigers: Jack Holder 8.61, Kyle Howarth (C) 5.28, Adam Ellis 6.72, David Bellego 5.80, Tobiasz Musielak 7.91, Lewis Kerr 4.59, Dan Gilkes (RS); TM: Simon Stead