PREVIEW: BELLE VUE v IPSWICH (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)
BELLE Vue captain Brady Kurtz is back for the clash with ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich at the National Speedway Stadium tonight (Monday).
Kurtz has missed the Aces’ last four matches with an ankle injury, but he returns to a full-strength side tonight with new signing Tate Zischke making his debut.
The Witches are six points clear at the top of the table but are seeking to improve their recent record in Manchester.
Former Belle Vue rider Tom Brennan guests for Jason Doyle, whilst both Adam Ellis and Jordan Jenkins are declared in the Ipswich team after recent crashes.
Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “We’re thrilled to have Brady back with us. It’s been as frustrating for him as for us with him being sidelined and I’m sure everyone’s glad to see him back leading the ATPI Aces.
“We’re going to need every ounce of firepower we have against Ipswich. They have been very dominant these last few months and we want to elevate our game to compete with that.
“Make no mistake, even without Jason Doyle our task against the Witches is no less challenging than if they were at full strength and with Tom Brennan gunning as cover for the Witches’ No.1, he’ll be out to prove his worth for the Witches and with an eye on a Speedway of Nations place.”
Witches manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “It is well documented that it is a place we have struggled at in the past, but form-wise we could not be going there in a better position.
“Fitness wise we are sweating on a few riders and even if they are fit to ride, we are going to be far from 100 per cent in that area.
“We say it every time but we may well be there later on the season in the play-offs so it would be nice to put in a good performance and know we can perform there in case we need to later in the year.”
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Ben Cook, Dan Bewley, Tate Zischke, Connor Bailey.
IPSWICH: Tom Brennan, Dan Thompson, Danny King, Adam Ellis, Emil Sayfutdinov, Keynan Rew, Jordan Jenkins.
SCB Referee: Tony Steele
