There’s plenty of interest for Workington speedway fans in the famous Peter Craven Memorial Trophy at Belle Vue on Monday, March 16.
Maryport’s flyng Dan Bewley; current Comet Tate Zischke and former Workington rider Peter Kildemand are all included in the line-up.
Belle Vue skipper Brady Kurtz will defend the Trophy he won last year against a star-studded field at the National Speedway Stadium,
The Aces have revealed the initial set of riders for their traditional season opener, which involves double winner Kurtz along with team-mates Bewley, Zach Cook, Norick Blodorn, Kildemand and Zischke.
Former club captain Max Fricke is included along with Great Britain international Tom Brennan and Sweden’s ex-World No.2 Fredrik Lindgren.
Belle Vue CEO Mark Lemon said “It’s the season curtain-raiser for the Premiership in many senses, and it’s a great shakedown for the club and the riders.
“We’ve worked hard to build the meeting up over the years, and it certainly justifies the title. Peter Craven was a legend of the sport, and we are privileged at Belle Vue to be able to honour the great man with a meeting of this quality.
“When I first got involved at Belle Vue I was clear that we wanted to create this event to be one of the big meetings on the calendar that the riders really wanted to ride in, and every year we’ve managed to make it better and better.
“The riders are all keen to do it, which obviously makes my life easier, and the crowds always respond in great numbers.
“It comes down to a spectacular climax with the five-rider semi and six-rider Final, and to see the six riders going across the line is quite breathtaking. I think we under-estimate our sport at times, but when you see that you genuinely think ‘wow!’”
Meanwhile Workington’s Championship rivals Berwick Bandits have unveiled an interesting newcomer in Lasse Fredriksen, who says his move to Shielfield Park has been over a year in the making.
The Norwegian racer is one of three new faces for the Bandits this season, along with Victor Palovaara and Reid Battye, whilst skipper Jye Etheridge returns from a year away at Workington.
And Fredriksen is targeting a strong UK campaign which could also benefit his international aspirations with the World Cup taking place this summer.
Fredriksen said: “I spoke to Berwick the winter before and was disappointed when it didn’t happen.
“It’s a club I was keen to join, so there was no hesitation when Stewart Dickson got in touch this year.
“I think as a team we can do some damage both home and away and be there or thereabouts in all the competitions.
“It’s one of my aims for 2026 to ride in the SWC, and to do that I need to be scoring for Berwick.”
