Cumbrian racer Dan Bewley will defend his Peter Craven Memorial Trophy at Belle Vue on March 21 – in a meeting which will feature all four of Great Britain’s Speedway of Nations winners.
Bewley, from Maryport, has been ruled out of Belle Vue’s team planning because of his overseas commitments.
His contract in the Polish Ekstraliga with champions Wroclaw limits him to racing in one other League elsewhere and he has also agreed a deal with Swedish club Smederma.
The 2021 season has been the most successful one of his short speedway career and he is looking forward to another big year this time round.
Currently practicing in Marmande, France, Bewley is looking forward to defending his title in Manchester in three weeks’ time.
The Aces had already announced Robert Lambert and youngster Tom Brennan for the meeting, and have now confirmed treble World Champion Tai Woffinden will make a rare UK appearance.
Other names to be added to a stellar field are Belle Vue No.1 Max Fricke, British Champion Adam Ellis and former national holders Charles Wright, who like Bewley is a former Workington Comets rider, and Chris Harris.
Aces CEO Mark Lemon said: “There is a real buzz around the club for this year’s Peter Craven Memorial, and the addition of these riders has made what was already a good field a fantastic one.
“It has all the hallmarks of a miniature Grand Prix in the making. Not only do we have former GP riders, but we now have current GP riders.”
Woffinden added: “I’m really excited to be able to get back on a bike in Manchester. It’s a place I really love to race, and I’ve never taken part in this event before.
“This meeting means a lot to Belle Vue and for me it’s all about going out and wanting to give something back to all the British fans who have been so supportive.”
Meanwhile former Comets star Simon Stead says promotion to the Premiership was the best thing to happen to Sheffield Tigers in recent years.
The Bates family and Peter Mole as club owners took the plunge in the winter of 2019/20 – and after their first season was wiped out by the pandemic, 2021 saw renewed excitement around the club with increased attendances and play-off qualification.
Now the Sheffield boss, Stead said: “It was a big call by the owners to step up, but I think they’re pleased with how it all worked out.
“The move undoubtedly raised the profile of Sheffield Speedway and, of course, it came with TV coverage which was live on Eurosport and then free to air on Quest to a huge audience.
“What we did last season was lay the foundations for this year. It’s given us a taste of things to come.
“Everything just felt different about the place, and I think the owners probably wish they’d stepped up before they did.”
