BELLE VUE CEO Mark Lemon is fired-up for the “huge challenge” of defending the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The ATPI Aces have revealed the seven riders who will bid to retain the title in 2025.
Inspirational boss Lemon has kept the winning formula of keeping the core of the side after attaining two championship victories in three seasons.
Captain Brady Kurtz and Dan Bewley will lead the club for a third successive campaign while Jaimon Lidsey, Norick Blodorn and Jake Mulford all return. Exciting young Australian Tate Zischke is back after his short spell at the National Speedway Stadium was ended by injury last season.
The new name is Aussie Zach Cook who, ironically, replaces his brother Ben due to his average being too high to keep the team under the Premiership’s points limit.
Lemon admitted: “Naturally I am delighted with the team that has been assembled.
“Having to break up a title-winning team is always very difficult but obviously that’s a situation forced upon us by rules.
“But I have great faith in Zach. He has shown fantastic progress over the last season and he will fit into the side perfectly.
“There’s a great deal of power at the top end and potential right down the order.
“We are led by two Grand Prix riders and both Brady and Dan were outstanding as we won the title last season.
“There’s room for improvement from Jaimon, Norick, Tate and Jake. If they can fulfil their potential, we will be a huge threat home and away.”
Lemon also admits that the biggest task in the sport is to defend a league title.
He added: “It’s a huge challenge to go back-to-back but we are ready to go for it.
“The last time the top flight title was defended was 10 years ago in 2015.
“We are excited to try and achieve something special. It will be tough but that’s what fires everyone up. What is sport without fierce competition and the 2025 Premiership looks stronger than ever.
“It’s been an outstanding few years for the club. We are back in our rightful mantle of the biggest club in British speedway, the most history and the most title wins.
“With that comes the expectation of more success. We have to accept that and use it as motivation. The class of 2025 knows what is expected.”
The new season, a historic tenth at the National Speedway Stadium, will start next spring, fixture dates to be released in due course.
The NSS will also host its first Manchester SGP on June 14 and British Championship final, date also to be confirmed at a later date.
