REIGNING Premiership Champions Belle Vue commence their August home schedule with a big War of the Roses clash with local rivals Sheffield on Monday, August 7, tapes up 7:30pm.
And it will a massive night at the National Speedway Stadium with three-time world speedway champion Tai Woffinden making his return to the UK for the first time since 2016!
He joins the Tigers as an injury replacement for Jack Holder for the Tigers and will make his Sheffield debut in Manchester against the ATPI Aces.
The two sides were meant to meet in their local derby last Monday, but due to the country experiencing one of the wettest July’s on record, that meeting was washed out.
And with broken collarbone victim Lewis Kerr back in the saddle after an extended period on the side-lines, both sides are at full strength for this hotly anticipated clash.
A shuffle in the averages sees the ATPI Aces track a new No.1 in the form of captain Brady Kurtz while Norick Blodorn moves back down to reserve and British No.2 Tom Brennan back up to No.2.
Three league points are on the line on Monday, with Sheffield the aggregate leaders after their 50-40 win at Owlerton last month, but Aces team boss Mark Lemon says the result is still wide open.
He said: “There’s always something that little extra that makes a local derby stand out when compared to other matches, and there’s no fiercer rivalry than that of Belle Vue and Sheffield.
“These are two very proud clubs with rich histories and a reputation for going all-out to get one over each other, and that always results in a fantastic night of Speedway whoever the winner.
“There’s no doubt this will be one of our biggest tests so far. The Tigers are the only team to have defeated us at home this year and though it was back in March, it is still hurts.
“But on both occasions we visited Owlerton, we performed admirably but tripped just short of the finish line and we, as a team, have come a long way since March.
“I believe this is a match for anyone to win. We know how strong we are at home, and our boys have the drive and the passion to succeed and I firmly believe that we will.”
The ATPI Aces are in action at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, August 7 against the Sheffield Tigers, tapes up at 7:30pm.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes, hospitality and south stand parking are now available to reserve online at bellevue-speedway.com/events.
BELLE VUE V SHEFFIELD – MONDAY, AUGUST 7 @ 7:30PM [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
Sheffield ‘TruPlant’ Tigers: Tobiasz Musielak 8.71, Kyle Howarth (C) 5.75, Adam Ellis 6.00, Josh Pickering 6.24, Tai Woffinden 7.03, Lewis Kerr 5.73, Dan Gilkes RS; TM: Simon Stead
Aggregate Score: Belle Vue 40-50 Sheffield
Image: Ian Charles