BRITISH FINAL SET FOR MANCHESTER RETURN

Speedway GP racer Dan Bewley looks set to defend his British Championship crown on home shale at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on Monday, August 14.

The British Final has been staged at the former FIM Speedway of Nations and FIM Speedway World Cup Final venue every year since 2016, so it comes as little surprise that the showpiece event returns there this summer.

Bewley topped the podium ahead of 2023 Belle Vue teammate Tom Brennan and former Speedway GP star Craig Cook last September.

He will be keen to make it two on the bounce in the year he returns to Aces colours full time after opting out of British league action in 2022.

Confirmation of the British Final date comes as British Speedway Promoters Ltd unveiled the SGB Premiership fixture list for 2023.

Belle Vue hosts the first UK action of the year, when they stage the Peter Craven Memorial meeting at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday, March 20.

The SGB Premiership season opens with a showdown of the 2022 Grand Final rivals Sheffield and Belle Vue at Owlerton on Thursday, March 23, with Ipswich and Peterborough facing off at Foxhall on the same night.

King’s Lynn’s season opens with the Ben Fund Bonanza on Saturday, March 25, with the individual event being staged to raise vital funds for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund – a charity that assists riders temporarily or permanently sidelined by racing injuries.

Stars’ first team event sees them host Sheffield in the Knockout Cup quarter finals on Thursday, March 30 – the same night SGB Premiership newcomers Leicester Lions make their top-flight return by welcoming Ipswich in their KO Cup quarter final tie.

Wolverhampton’s season opens with Sam Masters’ testimonial on Sunday, March 26, before the club races its first SGB Premiership match of 2023 at home to King’s Lynn on Monday, April 3.

Provisional dates have also been put in place for the play-offs, with the semi-finals due to be staged on September 11, 14, 18 and 21, featuring the top four teams. The Grand Finals will then take place on September 25 and 28.

The full SGB Premiership fixture list can be viewed here: https://britishspeedway.co.uk/calendar/2023-fixtures-results/