Ipswich boss Paul Hurry hailed Tom Brennan as he starred for the Tru7 Group Witches on the night their Rowe Motor Oil Premiership title defence ended in Manchester on Monday.
The Witches went down 58-32 in their play-off semi-final, second leg away to Belle Vue, with the Aces completing a 110-70 aggregate win after triumphing 52-38 in the first leg at Foxhall on September 21.
There was some good news for the 2025 champions as Brennan ended his 2026 campaign on a high with 11 points, while skipper Danny King also impressed on nine paid 11. The pair combined to score 5-1s for the Witches in heats three and 15, keeping the Belle Vue score down.
After an up-and-down season following a crash in California last October, which left Brennan with a broken tibia and fibula, Hurry was pleased to see the Witches star scoring well at the National Speedway Stadium.
He said: “He had that injury in the winter and then he had a bang to the head during the season. It takes time to get over those things – more than people let on. He did well on Monday. He came good. His bikes were working well, and he was back to the old Tom.
“There is never any doubt about what he can do. He’s there and he has proved it. But it does take time to come back from those injuries.”
Hurry was also impressed with King’s efforts. He said: “It’s about making starts and, when Danny makes a start, he can beat the best in the world, as he proved in Manchester.
“There were a couple of rides when he was having good battles. Danny had another good night. It was nice to finish with a 5-1 from Tom and Danny in the last race at Belle Vue.”
Hurry admits the Witches were beaten by the better side in Manchester and tipped the Aces to follow them as Premiership champions. He said: “It’s always tough going to Belle Vue. You have to take your hat off to them. What can you say? We were just beaten by the better team, and it’s odds-on that they are going to go on and win the league.”
FINAL SCORES
BELLE VUE ACES 58: 1. Brady Kurtz 10, 2. Norick Blodorn 9+1, 3. Peter Kildemand 8+1, 4. Zach Cook 7+2, 5. Jason Doyle 11+1, 6. Tate Zischke 7, 7. Will Cairns 6+3.
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES 32: 1. Richard Lawson 3, 2. Scott Nicholls 0, 3. Danny King 9+2, 4. Tom Brennan 11, 5. Tobiasz Musielak 5, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen 1, 7. Jason Edwards 3.