THE ROWE Motor Oil Premiership continues in earnest at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, April 8 when the Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces encounter Leicester Lions for the first time this season.
The two sides had been scheduled to lock horns at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena last month, before that fixture was postponed to April 18 as a result of inclement weather.
So far, the ATPI Aces have enjoyed moderate success in their team appearances with an impressive display at Ipswich, but their biggest accomplishment came on Easter Monday.
Their 49-41 victory over reigning champions Sheffield has set them up for an exciting second leg in their Knockout Cup Quarter Final, which is currently awaiting a re-staging date.
Confidence has certainly been buoyed by these results, with some surprise performances from some of the younger ATPI Aces, like Connor Mountain, being key to their success.
Team boss Mark Lemon has affirmed that there’s always room for improvements, and with the season still young he is pleased with what he has seen of his side so far.
He said: “In recent times, we’ve always found our first home team matches difficult, especially against Sheffield so it was satisfying for us to kick the 2024 campaign off to a good start.
“This will be Leicester’s first away match of the season and one which we are really looking forward to, with the return of former favourite Max Fricke to Manchester.
“Plus, with a whole host of former Wolverhampton riders like Sam Masters and Ryan Douglas, who ride our track very well, it makes for a very strong-looking Lions outfit.
“The meetings really are coming thick and fast right now, and the honeymoon period after the winter is well and truly over. The game, as they say, is on!”
The Belle Vue boys return home to the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, April 8 for another tasty league battle, this time against the Leicester Lions, tapes up at 7:30pm.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking are now available to pre-book, along with race day hospitality, at bellevue-speedway.com.
Then, the ATPI Aces head to King’s Lynn’s Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday, April 11 to continue their pursuit of Premiership points against the Stars.
BELLE VUE V LEICESTER – MONDAY, APRIL 8 @ 7:30PM [P1]
Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces: Brady Kurtz (C) 8.58, Norick Blodorn 5.88, Jaimon Lidsey 7.86, Ben Cook 5.94, Dan Bewley 8.13, Connor Mountain 4.42, Connor Bailey RS; TM: Mark Lemon
Leicester ‘Watling JCB’ Lions: Max Fricke 8.84 (C), Richard Lawson 6.67, Sam Masters 6.96, Luke Becker 6.95, Ryan Douglas 7.10, Drew Kemp 4.22, Joe Thompson RS; TM: Stewart Dickson
Words: Hayley Bromley – Images: Ian Charles
