POSTPONED: BIRMINGHAM v COVENTRY SELECT (Ch)

WEDNESDAY’S Challenge between Birmingham and a Coventry Bees Select team at Perry Barr has been postponed following morning rain and the forecast for more inclement weather later in the day.

BIRMINGHAM launch their 2023 campaign at Perry Barr on tonight (Wednesday) with a West Midlands Challenge against Coventry Bees Select.

The Brummies will take to the track without winter signing James Wright though, who crashed during his own season opener at Plymouth last week and is ruled out with shoulder damage, and the home side operate rider replacement.

Former Bees stars Chris Harris and Danny King are amongst the Coventry line-up as the fight continues to bring the sport back to its Brandon home, with a planning application for housing having been unanimously refused last November.

Brummies boss Laurence Rogers said: “A lot of people have put in a lot of hours to get us to this point again and when the bikes roar for the first time each season, that’s the reminder of why we do it.

“We’ve put together a team that we feel can go places for 2023 and while outsiders may not be giving us many chances again, write us off at your peril.

“We feel we’ve got what it takes to make the play-offs and progress in the other competitions and with the Coventry team that’s coming to Perry Barr, it’s going to be a really good first workout for the lads.”

BIRMINGHAM: Nick Morris, Alfie Bowtell, James Wright R/R, Stefan Nielsen, Justin Sedgmen, Ty Proctor, James Pearson.
COVENTRY SELECT: Chris Harris, Dan Thompson, Connor Mountain, Adam Roynon, Danny King, Joe Thompson, Freddy Hodder.