Belle Vue To Stage British Final On Sunday

Double Grand Prix winner Dan Bewley makes his return to the National Speedway Stadium on Sunday as Belle Vue restage the British Final (3.00pm).

The original staging of the meeting was abandoned after 12 heats last month due to heavy rain with each rider having completed three of their five races.

At that point, three riders – Dan Bewley, Aces’ rising star Tom Brennan, and Peterborough’s Chris Harris – all shared the lead on 8 points apiece, and with no way to split the trio on countback, it was decided that the only fair way to settle the prestigious title of British Champion was to restage the whole meeting.

Since that abandoned meeting, Bewley has gone on to win two back-to-back Grand Prix titles, landing the British Grand Prix in Cardiff and the Polish Grand Prix in Wroclaw, to propel himself up to No.3 in the World Championship standings, and he will start as hot favourite to land his first British Championship title.

However all riders start equal again in the restaging, and that will give a second chance to reigning British Champion Adam Ellis who had scored only one point at the time the original staging was brought to a premature close.

Belle Vue rider and former British Champion Charles Wright, who had 5 points in last months rained-off event, also rides, and there is further local interest with Ashton-Under-Lyne born Sheffield rider Kyle Howarth, and ex-Belle Vue twins Steve and Richie Worrall.

Before then, Belle Vue travel to Peterborough tonight in a Premiership match which will go some way to deciding their play-off semi-final opponents.

With the four play-off teams – Belle Vue, Ipswich, Sheffield and Wolverhampton – already settled, the only thing left to decide is the league’s finishing order which will determine the play-off semi-final schedule, with the top-of-the-table meeting the fourth place club in one semi-final, and second facing third in the other.

A win for Belle Vue tonight will ensure they finish ahead of Wolverhampton, and would therefore be highly unlikely to meet their bogey team in semi-finals.  Sheffield would then be the most likely opponents for the Aces.

2021 Premiership Champions Peterborough cannot now avoid this year’s wooden spoon, but they will be aiming to finish their season on a high with a win tonight against the Aces.

Regardless of opponents, Belle Vue’s play-off semi-final home leg will be on Monday 3 October.

The Belle Vue Colts hope to seal their place in the National League play-offs when they travel to Iwade, Kent this Sunday.

The meeting was scheduled to have taken place last Sunday but was postponed along with all the sport’s other weekend fixtures out of respect due to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  

It has been rearranged for this Sunday, where victory would guarantee the Colts a play-off place.  However Kent have recently strengthened their side with the signing of Max Clegg, and they are the Colts biggest challengers for the fourth and final play-off spot.

The Colts have one further regular league match still to arrange at Armadale, Edinburgh.

Picture: Dan Bewley (centre) after winning the Grand Prix - by Ian Charles