PREVIEW: BELLE VUE (42) v SHEFFIELD (48) (Prem)

BELLE Vue and Sheffield will be racing for three Premiership points tonight (Monday) thanks to the re-introduction of the aggregate bonus point.

The Tigers grabbed a 48-42 win in a competitive season-opener at Owlerton last Thursday, meaning the return fixture carries not only two match points for victory, but the additional point for overall success.

Aces boss Mark Lemon names an unchanged side for the defending champions’ first meeting of the season at the National Speedway Stadium, whilst his counterpart Simon Stead switches skipper Kyle Howarth and David Bellego in the riding order.

Belle Vue captain Brady Kurtz said: “I always go to Sheffield expecting a tough meeting and they are, I think, one of the strongest teams – so to come away with a six-point defeat in the very first one, in difficult conditions, is nothing really.

“We’ve got a good foundation to build on and I think everyone is looking forward to racing at the National Speedway Stadium again, and we know we’ve got some top performers around there.

“I feel there are lots of positives for us to take into this meeting. Once we’ve settled in and got into a bit of a rhythm, I strongly believe the true potential of this team will come out.”

Stead said: “Every single point becomes even more important now.

“We ironed out a few little things on opening night and the boys can head to Belle Vue feeling pretty confident after how they rode on Thursday.

“Let’s go there and give a good account of ourselves and see where we are at the end of the night.”

BELLE VUE: Dan Bewley, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Charles Wright, Brady Kurtz, Tom Brennan, Jake Mulford.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Adam Ellis, David Bellego, Tobiasz Musielak, Lewis Kerr, Dan Gilkes.