BEWLEY & KURTZ LEAD ACES' TITLE DEFENCE

Speedway GP duo Dan Bewley and Brady Kurtz will spearhead Belle Vue’s Rowe Motor Oil Premiership title defence, and boss Mark Lemon believes he has secured the right mix of power and potential for 2025.

Bewley and Kurtz inspired the Aces to their second British top-flight title in three years this season, and they will be joined at the National Speedway Stadium by 2020 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion Jaimon Lidsey, German star Norick Blodorn, Aussie young gun Tate Zischke and British rising star Jake Mulford, who all played their part for Belle Vue this year.

The team is completed by Aussie race Zach Cook, who replaces brother Ben Cook after he was snapped up by King’s Lynn, with Ben’s starting average too high to fit within the league’s team-building point limit.

Lemon believes he has a side loaded with big scorers and riders who can raise the bar to keep Belle Vue on top.

He said: “Naturally I am delighted with the team that has been assembled. Having to break up a title-winning team is always very difficult, but obviously that’s a situation forced upon us by rules. 

“But I have great faith in Zach. He has shown fantastic progress over the last season, and he will fit into the side perfectly.

“There’s a great deal of power at the top end and potential right down the order.  We are led by two Grand Prix riders and both Brady and Dan were outstanding as we won the title last season. 

“There’s room for improvement from Jaimon, Norick, Tate and Jake. If they can fulfil their potential, we will be a huge threat home and away.”

It’s set to be a huge season for the Aces as they host their first-ever FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester on June 14.

They will also battle to retain their Rowe Motor Oil Premiership crown, and Lemon knows this will be no easy task as they aim to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Poole won three in a row between 2013 and 2015.

Lemon said: “It’s a huge challenge to go back-to-back but we are ready to go for it. The last time the top-flight title was defended was 10 years ago in 2015.

“We are excited to try and achieve something special. It will be tough, but that’s what fires everyone up. What is sport without fierce competition, and the 2025 Premiership looks stronger than ever.

“It’s been an outstanding few years for the club. We are back in our rightful place as the biggest club in British speedway, with the most history and the most title wins. 

"With that comes the expectation of more success. We have to accept that and use it as motivation. The class of 2025 knows what is expected.”