FIM British Grand Prix @ Belle Vue

Report

HOME favourite Dan Bewley kicked off British Grand Prix weekend with a sensational triumph in the first meeting of the Manchester double on Friday.

The Belle Vue star produced two extraordinary rides in the last two races of a thrilling event at the National Speedway Stadium for a third GP win on home soil, to follow up his previous triumphs from Cardiff in 2022 and 2024.

Bewley defeated defending World Champion Bartosz Zmarzlik and his Aces team-mate Brady Kurtz in a dramatic three-way scrap in the Final as he had to ride the widest of lines around the fence to get the better of his opponents.

That came just minutes after Bewley appeared to be heading out of the event as he trailed in his Last Chance Qualifier where only the winner would go through.

But Bewley wound up sufficient speed to overhaul first Mikkel Michelsen and then on the last lap he flew around Sheffield No.1 Jack Holder to book his place in the Final.

It was the fifth GP victory of his career, and a hugely emotional one as it came on the circuit where he began racing in the British National Development League nearly a decade ago – and he has lined up in Belle Vue colours almost continuously ever since.

Bewley said: “That was just fun to be honest, I just had a good time, and a shout out to the other boys because it takes four guys to make a good race.

“The people here tonight have been behind me since my very first meeting in 2016, and it’s just so cool.

“I’ve had a few years that weren’t brilliant but the fans here, and to be honest everywhere, have always been behind me, and my dad keeps pushing me, he keeps me hard at work.

“My guys in the pits have done an awesome job, so we enjoy this for a minute and try and back it up tomorrow!”

The result moves Bewley up to third place in the World Championship standings, level on 54 points with Holder and Fredrik Lindgren who was fourth on the night.

Zmarzlik still leads the series with 73, nine ahead of Kurtz on 64 – but Bewley will have another chance to close the gap almost immediately as the second Manchester GP of the weekend takes place on Saturday.

FIM GRAND PRIX OF MANCHESTER
1 Dan Bewley (Great Britain)
2 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)
3 Brady Kurtz (Australia)
4 Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)

Qualifying scores: Bartosz Zmarzlik 12, Brady Kurtz 12, Max Fricke 12, Jack Holder 11, Dan Bewley 11, Martin Vaculik 10, Fredrik Lindgren 8, Mikkel Michelsen 8, Robert Lambert 7, Jan Kvech 6, Charles Wright 5, Kai Huckenbeck 5, Dominik Kubera 5, Jason Doyle 4, Anders Thomsen 3, Andzejs Lebedevs 1.

Photo credit: IAN CHARLES