BELLE Vue kick off their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign with a high-profile home clash against champions Ipswich at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday (7.30pm).
The ATPI Aces have performed strongly in two KO Cup matches on their own circuit so far in 2026, but the visit of the Witches is where the most serious business of chasing league points gets underway.
Manager Mark Lemon is boosted by the ability to name a full-strength team with both Brady Kurtz and Norick Blodorn returning, having been affected by illness and injury respectively during the KO Cup schedule.
They take on a Witches side who are much changed both on and off the track from the team which knocked the Aces out in the play-off semi-finals last season and then went on to defeat Leicester in the Grand Final.
Only three riders remain from that septet, but there is plenty of strength in depth in the Ipswich line-up and they have made an encouraging start with home and away wins over King’s Lynn in the KO Cup.
Former Aces rider Tom Brennan has taken over the No.1 berth at Foxhall whilst new reserve Philip Hellstrom-Bangs has shown his liking for the NSS in the past when racing in international events.
The Witches have an ultra-experienced middle order with another ex-Belle Vue rider Scott Nicholls making his return to the Premiership this season, whilst Richard Lawson and Tobiasz Musielak are also incoming riders to the Suffolk side in 2026.
There have been some thrilling encounters between the clubs in the recent past, with the match last August ending 45-45 after 15 races and being regarded as one of the best of the season anywhere in the UK.
Lemon knows the Witches may have a different look about them this year, but he says they are fully capable of giving his side a tough night.
He said: “It was very positive news for the league and the sport as a whole when the Ipswich takeover was completed, and they have started well with home and away wins over King’s Lynn.
“But we do hope to send them away pointless, and we can take real encouragement from our two home performances especially.
“Dan (Bewley) was absolutely immaculate on Easter Monday and obviously it’s a great boost to have Brady back at No.1 along with Norick also returning, so we’re at full strength and very keen to open our league season with a win.”
Tickets and hospitality packages for the meeting are available at https://www.bellevue-speedway.com/tickets .
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Peter Kildemand, Zach Cook, Dan Bewley, Tate Zischke, Will Cairns.
IPSWICH: Tom Brennan, Danny King, Richard Lawson, Scott Nicholls, Tobiasz Musielak, Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, Jason Edwards.