A thrilling night at Perry Barr saw the Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces edged out 47-43 by Birmingham, and it sets the stage for a dramatic bank holiday clash in one week’s time.
The visitors from Manchester started the night off strongly with a maximum advantage in Heat 1, but it wasn’t long before the Curtis Sport Brummies responded to take the lead.
From one heat to the next, the night swung in favour of one team to the other and made for truly thrilling viewing in the first televised meeting live on Eurosport.
Neither side was able to gain significant advantage over the other, but at one point the home side looked to have flummoxed the ATPI Aces as they struggled to land a blow.
But a decisive Heat 13 maximum to Brady Kurtz and Dan Bewley set the stage for a dramatic finale in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, and it was not without its controversy.
A clash between Kurtz and Piotr Pawlicki on the third lap saw the skipper of the ATPI Aces excluded for his efforts and paving the way for the home team to claim the win.
Yet despite defeat, Belle Vue can be satisfied with their performance, which again saw the captain top score with 11+1 and GP star Dan Bewley follow up with 7+1.
German U-21 champion Norick Blodorn said: “While it made for good TV, it wasn’t the best night for us in the end but congratulations to the Brummies, they put up a very tough fight.
“It was a tough call in Heat 15 between Brady and Piotr because, had things gone differently, we could either have won or forced a Super Heat.
“I think what people need to understand is that Birmingham, for a quite a few of the Belle Vue boys, was new territory and we did everything we could right up to the last.”
GP star Dan Bewley added: “I couldn’t comment too much on the Heat 15 decision, but it was a tough one for us and that’s the way racing goes sometimes.
“It’s been a trying weekend for me, first with the crash in Croatia and then getting side-swiped on the road by a car but that’s no excuse and I know that the fans expect more from me.
“But we’ve tried quite a few new things tonight and I think, moving forward, we’re gradually finding what works for us and people haven’t yet seen the best I have to offer.”
The ATPI Aces take to home shale on Monday, May 6 for a bank holiday bash that sees the Brummies travel to the National Speedway Stadium for the first time this year.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking are now available to pre-book, along with race day hospitality, at bellevue-speedway.com.
RESULT – BIRMINGHAM V BELLE VUE – ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1, 7:30PM
Birmingham ‘Curtis Sport’ Brummies 47: Tom Brennan 9+2, Piotr Pawlicki 8+2, Leon Flint 7+1, Zach Cook 7+1, Steve Worrall 6, Vaclav Milik 5, Wiktor Lampart 5
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces 43: Brady Kurtz 11+1, Dan Bewley 7+1, Ben Cook 7, Norick Blodorn 7, Jaimon Lidsey 6, Connor Mountain 4+1, Connor Bailey 1
Image: ©Belle Vue Speedway