THE Belle Vue ‘ATPI’ Aces added another historic chapter to their legacy after being crowned the 2024 Premiership League Champions at Leicester on Thursday.
Just 37 points separated them from their 14th league crown after thumping the Leicester Lions 54-36 at the National Speedway Stadium, and their evening couldn’t have got off to a better start.
Beginning the night with a 3-3 in heat 1, it was the reserve pairing of Antti Vuolas and Jake Mulford who put the Aces one step ahead with a superb 5-1 in Heat 2 to increase their aggregate lead.
A succession of shared races followed before skipper Brady Kurtz and Norick Blodorn teamed up for another heat advantage in Heat 5, further extending their overall lead.
The Lions finally bit back with a 5-1 of their own in Heat 10, but time was rapidly running out for the hosts as the ATPI Aces persisted in preventing any kind of comeback.
And with one final advantage to Kurtz and Blodorn one race later, they clinched the league title with time to spare while also going on to seal the win on the night 41-49.
It was fitting that the skipper, who has valiantly led his team throughout the season while battling his own injury issues, was the one to lead his team to victory with the German prodigy.
Hundreds of hopeful Belle Vue fans made the trip to the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena for the grand finale, with epic scenes unfolding after the trophy presentations between riders and fans.
World No.4 Dan Bewley wowed the crowds with another 15-point maximum to make it a perfect 30-point score over two legs, while Brady Kurtz also recorded an 11+1 paid maximum.
Kurtz said: “It’s been tough all season but the boys really stepped things up at Leicester and did the business. I mean, what a club and what a team! It really has been a team effort.
“I think a lot of people maybe wrote us off before the play offs and there was that feeling of us being something of the underdog but I think that just spurred us on to step things up.
“That’s what it takes when it comes to play off speedway and it was awesome to show what we can do in the semi-final against Sheffield, and now here at Leicester as well.
“We can’t thank the management enough, Lemmo [Mark Lemon], the owners, everyone who works at the club and the supporters, and it’s nice to finally have our trophy back”.
One meeting remains before Belle Vue box off their season, with the Cool Running Colts taking to the track in Manchester on Monday, October 7 when they face Sheffield/Scunthorpe.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking are available to pre-book online at bellevue-speedway.com/events.
Scorecard
leicester_03.10.24_resWords by Hayley Bromley – Images: Ian Charles
