Blodorn aims for "icing on the cake" Aces glory

NORICK BLODORN says it would be the “icing on the cake” to complete a hat-trick of titles with Belle Vue

The hugely-popular German celebrated winning the Ekstraliga a week ago in Poland but now wants to complete an amazing season by doing the same with the Manchester club.

ATPI Aces go to Sheffield in the first leg of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final tonight, live on BSN at 7pm.

They are without Peter Kildemand who broke his wrist at Plymouth on Saturday night. Mitch McDiarmid comes in as a guest. 

Blodorn, 22, has been a key figure of the recent success story at the National Speedway Stadium, having already won the title in 2022. 

Ironically he was on winning side for Torun at Wroclaw, outgunning his Belle Vue buddies Brady Kurtz and Dan Bewley. 

Now he’s aiming for success with Kurtz, starting at Owlerton. 

He said: “It was an amazing weekend to win the Ekstraliga with Torun.

“We had a big celebration but now it’s focus on winning the title in the UK. To now win with Belle Vue, that would be the icing on the cake I think you say!

“I’ve been at Belle Vue for five years, since 2022 and we’ve already won two titles. To get a third would be amazing and do the double with Poland. 

“I’ve still got in the back of my mind that Belle Vue gave me the chance to become a professional speedway rider. So it’s special to try and win for them and the fans. 

“In paper perhaps Leicester might have been a little easier, but I’m not so sure. 

“But having Sheffield in the Grand Final brings up some good memories after we won the title there in 2022. That was a proper special night, one of the best ever. 

“Even compared to winning the Ekstraliga in Wroclaw, the atmosphere at Sheffield that night of the final in 2022 was the best ever.”

Blodorn admits that the Aces must make sure they are fired-up for the big opening clash in the War of the Roses. 

He added: “When we managed to beat Ipswich in the semi-final it didn’t feel like we’d done anything special. 

“We just did the job and made the final. It didn’t feel like such a great achievement. 

“Now we need to really focus on the job against Sheffield. We can’t take anything for granted and don’t let anything slip out of our hands now. 

“We’ve had such a good season, it would be so silly to throw it away now. 

“Everyone at the club knows what we have to do. We go to Sheffield to win the meeting, same we have done all season.”

Blodorn has been sensational this season at No.2 and believes it’s all down to the right mentality. 

He said: “I always knew I was capable of scoring well in the UK. But some years I’ve been good in the UK and not in Europe and some years the other way round. It’s been very frustrating. 

“I’ve not really made any big changes this year, I think it’s just down to confident and belief. Speedway can be very much in the mind. 

“I also think being in the Ekstraliga and racing against top boys every week is tough. That experience and pressure has helped me in the UK as well. 

“I’ve still done a lot over the past few seasons. In 2022 I won the league with Belle Vue and then in 2024. Last year I won the Speedway of Nations 2 and now I’ve won the Ekstraliga. The last one is the Premiership. That would be a perfect end to the season.”

Sheffield bring in Max Fricke as a guest for Jack Holder after he served them so well in the semi-final against Leicester. 

Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “I really hope to see the place full. Let’s make one of those really special Owlerton atmospheres under the lights – then it’s down to us to go out there and get the job done!

“The beauty of the play-offs is that anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed.

“Yes, some people may make Belle Vue the favourites because they did finish top – but we’re going to be going into this Grand Final giving it absolutely everything.”

SHEFFIELD: Max Fricke, Anders Rowe, Chris Holder, Leon Flint, Josh Pickering, Jye Etheridge, Luke Killeen.

BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Mitch McDiarmid, Zach Cook, Jason Doyle, Tate Zischke, Will Cairns.

Words by Phil Lanning.

Images by Taylor Lanning.