PREVIEW: PETER CRAVEN MEMORIAL, BELLE VUE

BELLE Vue launch the 2023 season with a top-class field racing for the Peter Craven Memorial Trophy tonight (Monday).

Danish star Michael Palm Toft is the defending holder but faces a tough challenge with previous winners Dan Bewley and Jason Doyle both in the field, as well as a host of other star names.

Former World Champions Nicki Pedersen and Chris Holder are both included, along with GP stars Fredrik Lindgren and Robert Lambert, the latter having ridden for the Aces in last season’s play-offs.

Palm Toft said: “The Peter Craven Memorial is one of the biggest meetings in the UK, especially with all the big names in it. It’s prestigious, that’s for sure.

“It’s one of my biggest achievements individually and I want to do it again. I don’t think people expected me to win and I’m in it to win it again.”

Bewley won the British title at the National Speedway Stadium last year and is looking to repeat his previous victory in the Peter Craven event, as he returns to Premiership racing full-time this season with the Aces.

He said: “I’m looking forward to being back at this club. It was awesome to win this in 2021 and I’d love to get things off to winning ways – but it’s a tough field of riders, so we’ll see what happens.”

LINE-UP: 1 Charles Wright, 2 Robert Lambert, 3 Chris Holder, 4 Brady Kurtz, 5 Krzysztof Kasprzak, 6 Matej Zagar, 7 Max Fricke, 8 Tom Brennan, 9 Jason Doyle, 10 Nicki Pedersen, 11 Michael Palm Toft, 12 Fredrik Lindgren, 13 Tobiasz Musielak, 14 Jaimon Lidsey, 15 Norick Blodorn, 16 Dan Bewley. Reserves: 17 Jake Mulford, 18 Jack Smith.

LIVE STREAMING: https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk