TEAM action roars to life at the National Speedway Stadium this Easter, starting Good Friday, March 29 when the Belle Vue Cool Running Colts face Leicester in NDL action, tapes up at 1pm.
It’s the first time since the club’s annual press day that the team has taken to the track together and are hoping to kick off their league campaign with a strong performance at home.
The new regulations governing the National Development League this season have seen the traditional Play Offs scrapped, with the team finishing top of the table declared champions.
And with an almost identical side to last year, club bosses fancy their chances and are backing the Cool Running Colts in their opening match of 2024.
Two changes, one on each side of the pits, sees both Sam Hagon for the home team and Max James for the away team missing in action due to clashes in the Championship league.
So, Belle Vue have called up Ben Trigger to deputise at No.1 for Hagon, while Leicester have snapped up the services of Jody Scott to stand in at No.5.
Team co-boss Graham Goodwin said: “We couldn’t ask for a tougher opening fixture than the Lion Cubs. They have been arguably our toughest NDL opponents in recent years.
“With no play offs this season, every fixture becomes even more vital than the last and every point is as crucial as the next. It very much is all-or-nothing if we want to make an impression.
“We always say there’s no pressure on the guys, and that’s a true this year as it always has been. We know they’re capable of doing what needs to be done, it’s not something we have to tell them.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but at the same time it will be a very exciting afternoon of racing and we hope to see a big crowd to cheer on the lads.”
The Speedway season in Manchester continues on Good Friday, March 29 when the Cool Running Colts face Leicester in their first NDL league action of the season.
The ATPI Aces, meanwhile, hope to get their league campaign underway when they visit Ipswich on Thursday, March 21 before heading home to Manchester on Easter Monday, April 1.
Meeting tickets, race day programmes and south stand parking are now available for both home meetings, along with race day hospitality on Easter Monday, at bellevue-speedway.com.
BELLE VUE V LEICESTER – FRIDAY, MARCH 29 @ 1PM [NDL]
Belle Vue ‘Cool Running’ Colts: Ben Trigger (G) 8.24, Chad Wirtzfeld 3.81, Matt Marson 5.86, Luke Muff 4.83, Freddy Hodder (C) 6.44, Jack Shimelt 3.00, Harry McGurk 3.00; TM: Steve Williams & Graham Goodwin
Leicester Lion Cubs: Joe Thompson (C) 9.08, Vinnie Foord 3.81, Tom Spencer 5.78, Arran Butcher 4.69, Jody Scott (G) 5.70, Luke Crang 3.61, Sonny Springer 3.00; TM: Dave Howard
Words by Hayley Bromley – Image by Ian Charles
