Belle Vue will be the first sporting venue in Manchester to welcome back spectators to the National Speedway Stadium for their War of the Roses clash with Sheffield on Monday, May 17.
Fallout from the Coronavirus pandemic means fans in Manchester have been unable to attend Speedway events at the home of the BikeRight Aces since 2019 due to enforced Covid-19 restrictions.
But with the latest easing of government restrictions, the club will be allowed to admit limited numbers through the turnstiles as the UK takes another step towards the return of normality.
And initial sales have been more than encouraging for this local derby after South Stand and Grandstand tickets sold out within 48 hours of going on sale, with only a few East Standing remaining.
Fans are looking forward to quite the spectacle with our local rivals, and riders on both sides of the pits are equally keen to dive back into competitive action.
BikeRight Aces debutant Charles Wright said: “It’s been a least a year since I’ve been off the bike. I’ve done a lot in that time but looking back it’s certainly feels like it’s been much longer than that.
“It’s made everyone all the more eager to get going. There was a lot of uncertainty at the beginning of the year so to have made it to this point is very exciting and encouraging.”
Like Charles has had to wait 12 months to make his Belle Vue debut, so the Sheffield Tigers have had to wait an entire year to announce their arrival into the British Premiership.
They are tipped as one of the favourites for the title, along with the BikeRight Aces, and many fans are thrilled to see the return of their true local derby to open the season in Manchester.
Wright continued: “This will be a big test for us. It’s our first meeting, it’s their first meeting. These are two fairly equal teams on paper so I think it will be an exciting night for the fans.
“The National Speedway Stadium always serves up some of the best racing. It’s a track I like very much, and it suits my style, as it does all of the other lads.
“Of course, we’ll be targeting the win, but there’s already such a buzz around the sport I think whichever way it swings I think everyone is just relieved to finally be getting back to normal.”
Tickets for all meetings at Belle Vue must be purchased online at bellevue-speedway.com and we ask fans to familiarise themselves with the club’s COVID-19 T&Cs prior to attendance.
By Hayley Bromley
Pictures by Ian Charles
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