World No.3 Dan Bewley admits former world champion Chris Holder was one of the riders who sparked his speedway interest after pipping the Aussie to the Peter Craven Memorial crown in Manchester on Monday.
Holder started his 2026 season in sensational style by blazing through his five heats with a 15-point maximum. Despite the Sydneysider getting caught up with compatriot Jason Doyle as they left the start line for the six-rider final, Holder found his way under race leader Bewley on bend three. But Bewley hit back with a sublime pass on lap two to lift the Peter Craven Memorial trophy at the National Speedway Stadium for the first time since 2021.
The Cumbrian Speedway GP star, who scored 13 in the heats, admits getting the better of a rider who inspired him into the sport made the victory even sweeter.
He said: “I’ve said this a few times now but it’s always pretty cool when I ride against Chris. It’s always pretty special. He’s one of the riders I watch on Facebook with the old videos popping up from back in the day that got me interested in speedway.
“It has been a few years since I won, and this is a pretty historic meeting. I think for all of us, it’s just cool to be back racing first of all, but it was an awesome night and it’s pretty cool when you have a couple of good battles towards the end. That just makes it even better.”
World No.2 Brady Kurtz secured third place in the final after tallying 10 in the heats and winning the last-chance qualifier.
Former world champion Jason Doyle finished fourth, with SGP rival Max Fricke fifth and former British champion Adam Ellis sixth, having only been drafted into the meeting as a late replacement for Fredrik Lindgren.