The fifth round of the Premiership Pairs due to be held at Sheffield will now take place at Leicester on Tuesday 25th October.
NEW DATE FOR ROUND 5 OF PREMIERSHIP PAIRS
Author Archives: Henry Chard
NEW DATE FOR LEAGUE TRIP TO SHEFFIELD
Our remaining Premiership fixture away at Sheffield has been re-arranged for Monday 24th October.
The Premiership Pairs round at Owlerton will be re-arranged in due course.
RISS RETURNS AFTER INJURY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches have redeclared their team with Erik Riss returning from injury to replace Rohan Tungate.
Riss suffered an ankle injury in July and Tungate was signed as an injury replacement but now that the German is back on a bike, he retakes his place in the line-up.
We thank Rohan for his efforts during his time with the club.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY REPORT: BELLE VUE 55-35 IPSWICH (107-73 ON AGGREGATE) – PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2ND LEG (A)
By Henry Chard
THE SCORES
BELLE VUE 55: Brady Kurtz © 8, Tom Brennan (RS) 4, Matej Zagar 12+2, Charles Wright 7, Robert Lambert 15 (Maximum), Norick Blödorn 5, Jye Etheridge 4+1. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
IPSWICH 35: Jason Doyle 9+1, Aaron Summers 5, Danny King © 5+1, Rohan Tungate 5+1, Troy Batchelor 5+1, Paul Starke 5, Anders Rowe (RS) 1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: W. Dishington
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 19 | 43 |
| Ipswich | 19 | 43 |
| Belle Vue | 19 | 38 |
| Wolverhampton | 20 | 34 |
| King’s Lynn | 19 | 24 |
| Peterborough | 20 | 13 |
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF FIXTURES
SEMI-FINALS
1st Leg: Wolverhampton 43-47 Sheffield, Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (2nd Leg – Oct 6)
1st Leg: Ipswich 38-52 Belle Vue, 2nd Leg: Belle Vue 55-35 Ipswich
THE STORY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches’ Premiership title hopes ended on Monday night at the National Speedway Stadium as they were defeated by Belle Vue in the play-off semi-final.
The Aces brought a 14-point lead into the second leg after winning at Foxhall last week and also announced the signing of world number five Robert Lambert on the day of the fixture to replace the injured Max Fricke. Whilst Ipswich battled hard all night, they couldn’t produce the dramatic turnaround needed and fell to a 20-point defeat in Manchester as Belle Vue booked their place in the play-off final. Jason Doyle top scored with 9+1.
Aces captain Brady Kurtz won heat one ahead of Aaron Summers as Doyle kept Tom Brennan at the back for a 3-3. Norick Blödorn took the honours in heat two with Paul Starke second as Jye Etheridge rounded Anders Rowe late on in the race for a point to give the hosts a 4-2. Matej Zagar was a clear winner in heat three as Rohan Tungate finished second and Charles Wright got the better of Danny King for third that gave the Aces another heat advantage. Lambert combined with Etheridge for a comfortable 5-1 in heat four to put Belle Vue eight points ahead on the night and 22 points on aggregate.
Doyle got Ipswich’s first race win of the night in heat five after he produced a fine move to cut back on the inside of Zagar on turn two of the opening lap and with Summers third it was a 2-4 to the Witches. Troy Batchelor couldn’t be caught in heat six and it was another heat advantage for the away side with Starke third. Lambert was a clear winner in heat seven but King and Tungate both rode well to relegate Blödorn to the back and ensure a share of the points. Tom Brennan won heat eight ahead of Summers with Etheridge third for a 4-2 that gave the home team a six-point lead in the meeting and put them 20 points up overall.
The Aces extended their lead with a 5-1 in heat nine before an action-packed heat 10. Brennan was the early leader in the race with King pushing hard in second, but Kurtz went from third to first in one corner as King went past Brennan in the same move and it ended with a 4-2 to the hosts which confirmed their progress to the final. Lambert was a clear winner ahead of Doyle in heat 11 and Blödorn made a late pass on Summers to hand the Aces another heat advantage. Zagar won heat 12 comfortably in a shared heat which maintained his side’s 14-point lead in the meeting.
Doyle made the start in heat 13 but couldn’t keep Lambert behind him as the race ended in a 3-3. Wright won heat 14 as Tungate went up the inside of Blödorn at the start of the second lap to split the home pairing and limit them to a 4-2. Lambert completed a 15-point maximum with victory in heat 15 as Zagar and Doyle exchanged moves throughout for second, but it was the home rider who won the battle to secure a 5-1 in the final race of the night as Belle Vue completed a convincing victory over two legs.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s defeat to Belle Vue.
“Belle Vue are very good around here and Thursday cost us massively. Over the two legs they were the far superior side. We knew it was a massive task, but we are not quick enough when we come here, I think that has been quite apparent in our last two visits here.
“Right from one to seven we are not quick enough, whether that is that we haven’t got our heads around the setup, or the equipment is not on pace for a big fast track like this, that is something that all the boys will be working on this winter. We have not been quick enough when we have come here and that was apparent again tonight.
“We spent a lot of the season top of the league, and we have had some great results and moments throughout the season. So, to bow out with such a heavy defeat in the semi-final of the play-offs is a big disappointment and not how we wanted to go. Belle Vue have clicked in at the right time and we have probably gone the opposite way.
“We have had great support home and away this year and we thank everyone for that. Everyone at the club has worked so hard and I think everyone had high hopes during the season with our performances. Overall, we have provided a lot more ups than downs, but we have ended on a low, but I hope this team isn’t just remembered for the last two meetings because during the league campaign they have been very good.
“We have got a league meeting to complete still when Sheffield can get that re-arranged and then the Pairs meetings. We are in a great position in the Pairs and if we can bounce back from this and finish the season off with winning the Pairs then that would be some consolation for the play-off defeat.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Number one Doyle once again offered up the most resistance, top scoring with 9+1.
WHAT IT MEANS
Belle Vue progress to the Premiership play-off final and will face either Wolverhampton or Sheffield for the title. The league season ends for Ipswich who now turn their attentions to the Premiership Pairs competition.
UP NEXT
A ‘Tru Mix’ Witches pairing heads to Sheffield for the fifth round of the Premiership Pairs on Monday 24th October.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY PREVIEW: BELLE VUE – PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2ND LEG (A)
By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Premiership play-off semi-final second leg fixture with Belle Vue.
WHEN & WHERE
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to Manchester to face the Belle Vue Aces at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday 3rd October in a Premiership play-off semi-final second leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
BELLE VUE: 1. Brady Kurtz 8.24 © 2. Tom Brennan 5.86 (RS) 3. Matej Zagar 7.20 4. Charles Wright 6.42 5. Robert Lambert 7.61 6. Norick Blödorn 5.45 7. Jye Etheridge 4.76. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
IPSWICH: 1. Jason Doyle 10.32 2. Aaron Summers 4.91 3. Danny King 6.57 © 4. Rohan Tungate 6.61 5. Troy Batchelor 5.57 6. Paul Starke 3.53 7. Anders Rowe (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: W. Dishington
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 19 | 43 |
| Ipswich | 19 | 43 |
| Belle Vue | 19 | 38 |
| Wolverhampton | 20 | 34 |
| King’s Lynn | 19 | 24 |
| Peterborough | 20 | 13 |
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF FIXTURES
SEMI-FINALS
Wolverhampton vs Sheffield (1st Leg – Oct 3), Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (2nd Leg – Oct 6)
Ipswich 38-52 Belle Vue (1st Leg – Sep 29), Belle Vue vs Ipswich (2nd Leg – Oct 3)
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased online here and are available on the gate.
THE STORY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches head to Manchester on Monday night to face the Belle Vue Aces for the decisive second leg of their Premiership play-off semi-final. Ipswich hosted the first leg at Foxhall last Thursday and endured a disastrous evening, going down to a 14-point defeat, leaving themselves with a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the final.
The Suffolk side have had mixed fortunes at the National Speedway Stadium in 2022, picking up a consolation point in June after a narrow 48-42 defeat, but they have also experienced a heavy 60-30 defeat in August. The Witches know they need to produce a comeback of epic proportions on Monday with many expecting Belle Vue’s progress to the final to be a formality having built up such a healthy lead at Foxhall.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“We have already messed it up, so we have nothing to lose now and everything to gain. The pressure is off. We have had a great year together as a team and we have enjoyed being together and chances are Monday will be the last time as a one to seven. If we can go there and put everything into place as we should, you never know.
“We have got a team of riders capable of beating Belle Vue riders. The history and stats won’t be in our favour, but we have no pressure on us and we can go and race and enjoy ourselves. We need to put in a much better performance than we did on Thursday for all the fans watching at home or travelling. We need to put in a performance that they have seen all season with that fighting spirit and give them something to be proud of.”
THE ACES
Belle Vue boast a perfect home league record in 2022 with 10 wins from 10 and have handed out several heavy defeats along the way to their Premiership rivals. On Thursday night they surprised many by racing to a convincing victory at Foxhall in the first leg, having previously only recorded victories on the road against bottom side Peterborough in the league this season. They host the second leg knowing they are in pole position to reach the final with that 14-point advantage.
The hosts remain without their number one Grand Prix rider Max Fricke who had his season ended by injury just before the play-offs began. He will be replaced by their new signing Robert Lambert who comes in at number five with captain Brady Kurtz moving to number one. With the October averages now in force there is a switch at reserve with Jye Etheridge dropping to number seven and Norick Blödorn moving up to number six.
AWAY DAYS
Ticket prices can be found here and official programmes cost £3. For more information about your visit to the National Speedway Stadium, head here.
For more information about the club head to Belle Vue’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY REPORT: IPSWICH 38-52 BELLE VUE – PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1ST LEG (H)
By Henry Chard
MEETING SPONSOR
Suffolk Floor Restore – Suffolk Floor Restore is a family run business that provide a professional stone and tile cleaning.
THE SCORES
IPSWICH 38: Jason Doyle 15 (Maximum), Aaron Summers 3+1, Danny King © 6, Rohan Tungate 1, Troy Batchelor 4+1, Paul Starke 2, Anders Rowe (RS) 7. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
BELLE VUE 52: Craig Cook (g) 5+1, Tom Brennan (RS) 8, Matej Zagar 12+1, Charles Wright 7, Brady Kurtz © 11+1, Jye Etheridge 3, Norick Blödorn 6+3. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
REFEREE: M. Bates
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 19 | 43 |
| Ipswich | 19 | 43 |
| Belle Vue | 19 | 38 |
| Wolverhampton | 20 | 34 |
| King’s Lynn | 19 | 24 |
| Peterborough | 20 | 13 |
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF FIXTURES
SEMI-FINALS
Wolverhampton vs Sheffield (1st Leg – Oct 3), Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (2nd Leg – Oct 6)
Ipswich 38-52 Belle Vue (1st Leg – Sep 29), Belle Vue vs Ipswich (2nd Leg – Oct 3)
THE STORY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches suffered their heaviest home defeat of the season as they were beaten by the Belle Vue Aces at Foxhall on Thursday night in the first leg of their Premiership play-off semi-final clash.
The hosts went into the meeting without the injured Danyon Hume who has been a regular at reserve despite starting the season as a number eight whilst the visitors were without their number one Max Fricke due to injury with Craig Cook guesting in his place. Things started brightly for Ipswich as they raced into a six-point lead after two heats, and they held a four-point lead after six races. However, things started to unravel for the Suffolk side from then on as the away side racked up the heat advantages in the second half of the meeting to record a comfortable victory on the road. It leaves the Witches with a mountain to climb in the second leg in Manchester on Monday if they are to progress to the final. Jason Doyle was sublime once again, top scoring with another 15-point maximum.
Doyle and Aaron Summers raced out of the gate in heat one to get the home team off to the perfect start with a 5-1. Anders Rowe got his first heat win of the season in heat two and with Paul Starke third it was another heat advantage to Ipswich to continue the positive start. Rohan Tungate led heat three but fell at the end of the third lap as Matej Zagar came underneath him and it was the Witches man who was excluded, with a 2-4 awarded to the Aces. Belle Vue captain Brady Kurtz won heat four as the points were shared leaving Ipswich four up after the early exchanges.
Cook won heat five with Tom Brennan third for a heat advantage to the away side, but the four-point lead was restored in heat six as Doyle won and Summers picked up a point for a 4-2. Zagar won heat seven and Charles Wright passed Starke for a point as Belle Vue reduced the deficit to just two points again. The Aces then went in front in heat eight with the Witches duo of Rowe and Summers clashing coming out of the second turn on the opening lap, causing Summers to retire and leaving Brennan and Norick Blödorn to pick up an easy maximum and put them two points ahead.
Kurtz was a winner again in heat nine with Jye Etheridge third for another heat advantage before Doyle stemmed the tide in heat 10 with another victory in a shared heat. Troy Batchelor was a comfortable leader in heat 11 but disaster struck on the final lap as his bike packed up which gifted Belle Vue a maximum. Things went from bad to worse in heat 12 as Danny King fell on the opening lap and was excluded and the visitors took full advantage in the re-run, clocking up another 1-5 to give them a commanding 12-point lead.
Heat 13 was stopped after Cook fell on the opening turn and was excluded. Doyle won the re-run as Kurtz got the better of Batchelor for second after the pair exchanged passes, meaning a 4-2 to Ipswich. The Aces responded with another maximum in heat 14 to stretch their lead to 14 points. Doyle completed his night with another race win in heat 15 but Batchelor was relegated to the back resulting in a 3-3, leaving Foxhall deflated after a heavy first leg loss and needing a dramatic turnaround at the National Speedway Stadium.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s defeat to Belle Vue.
“We were great for 10 laps and then after Rohan’s crash it fell to bits. We had machinery problems and that incident with Rohan. We have been saying it all season that we need to improve at home otherwise we will get punished and we certainly did today.
“You could see all the signs that it should have worked but it didn’t and even without the bad luck we were not good enough tonight. We have said all season we need everyone to start clicking together and it has not happened again. We have had the worst night of the season with the anticipation of it being the best beforehand.
“Doyley was terrific again, that goes without saying and Anders with seven points from number seven was a massive improvement. Other than that, Aaron had machinery problems which wrote off two of his races after he and Anders collided. Batch and Rohan had machinery problems, but it is no good being there for a couple of races, we needed to be there in all four heats and be a lot more consistent and we certainly were not.
“We are only halfway through but if this is the end of our season as such in the league after such a great season, it certainly isn’t fitting to end this way and go out like that. We need to go into Monday with no pressure on us and we have nothing to lose and need to try and perform a miracle.”
SUFFOLK FLOOR RESTORE RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Needless to say, it was Doyle who picked up the award after another immaculate night’s work, recording a 15-point maximum.
WHAT IT MEANS
Belle Vue take a 14-point lead into the second leg on Monday and are heavy favourites to complete the job on home shale and progress to the final.
UP NEXT
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to Manchester on Monday 3rd October to face the Belle Vue Aces at the National Speedway Stadium for the second leg of the Premiership play-off semi-final. Tickets can be purchased here.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY PREVIEW: BELLE VUE – PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1ST LEG (H)
By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Premiership play-off semi-final first leg fixture with Belle Vue.
WHEN & WHERE
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches host the Belle Vue Aces at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 29th September in a Premiership play-off semi-final first leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
MEETING SPONSOR
Suffolk Floor Restore – Suffolk Floor Restore is a family run business that provide a professional stone and tile cleaning.
TEAMS
IPSWICH: 1. Jason Doyle 10.10 2. Aaron Summers 4.33 3. Danny King 6.54 © 4. Rohan Tungate 5.93 5. Troy Batchelor 5.82 6. Paul Starke 3.42 7. Anders Rowe (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
BELLE VUE: 1. Craig Cook (g) 8.40 2. Tom Brennan 5.38 (RS) 3. Matej Zagar 8.29 4. Charles Wright 6.43 5. Brady Kurtz 8.14 © 6. Jye Etheridge 4.94 7. Norick Blödorn 4.24. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
REFEREE: M. Bates
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 19 | 43 |
| Ipswich | 19 | 43 |
| Belle Vue | 19 | 38 |
| Wolverhampton | 20 | 34 |
| King’s Lynn | 19 | 24 |
| Peterborough | 20 | 13 |
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF FIXTURES
SEMI-FINALS
Wolverhampton vs Sheffield (1st Leg – Oct 3), Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (2nd Leg – Oct 6)
Ipswich vs Belle Vue (1st Leg – Sep 29), Belle Vue vs Ipswich (2nd Leg – Oct 3)
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online (until 7pm on raceday) and on the gate and are priced at £20 for adults and £18 for concessions (65+). Children 16 and under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3 and are available at the stadium. Car parking is free for all supporters. Debit and credit card payments are accepted. Turnstiles open at 6.40pm.
THE STORY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches host the Belle Vue Aces in the first leg of the Premiership play-off semi-final on Thursday at Foxhall. Ipswich were deemed to finish second in the Premiership table with one league fixture outstanding at Sheffield, with the Tigers unable to complete their home schedule before the league’s cut-off date meaning the league positions on 22nd September would determine the play-off fixtures. That meant it would be the Aces in the semi-final who finished third in the table and the Witches have been victorious in both league fixtures in Suffolk against the Manchester side this season, winning 47-43 and 50-40. Ipswich will look to build as big a lead as possible to take into the second leg at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday.
Thursday has come too soon for number eight Danyon Hume who has been a regular in the side this season at reserve, but he suffered a collarbone injury at the end of last month which is keeping him on the sidelines. Other than that absence the home side are at full strength with everyone involved knowing that a season’s work boils down to this, with a place in the final the reward for the side that prevails over the next 30 heats of action.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“We are ready for the play-offs now and our whole season has been geared towards these four meetings. Every decision made has been with an eye on these meetings, this is what it is all about. We are ready and have had a great league campaign and I am super excited to get underway. Belle Vue will be a tough test; they have got a great team together and we are going to need everyone there supporting us and our team has shown enough this year that it warrants that backing. We are excited to get going now.
“The season starts fresh in the play-offs; our home form has been inconsistent at best, and we need everyone to click now. Belle Vue have been in great form at home, so we are looking to win the meeting and build as big a lead as possible. Whatever happens, over two legs I think we can beat anyone in this league. We have been very good away from home, so it is not all on our performance on Thursday night, but we need to put in two great performances over two legs if we want to progress and we are more than capable of doing that.
“We have the same line-up as we’ve had towards the end of the season with the same riding order. We have kind of settled on that at the moment and it works best at home. Paul has a few rides this week for Glasgow which will help him to get a few meetings under his belt.
“We have had some great nights at Foxhall in recent years in the play-offs in front of big crowds. Having that atmosphere always gives the team a boost and I’m sure it will be the same on Thursday.”
THE ACES
Belle Vue finished third in the Premiership table and although they have one outstanding fixture to complete, they would have been unable to catch Ipswich in second. Their success has been built on a perfect home record in the league with 10 wins from 10 and some thrashings handed out along the way. Their form on the road has been less impressive with just two wins on their travels, both at bottom side Peterborough. Their only other point away from home came in Suffolk early on in the year after a narrow defeat at Foxhall and a narrow defeat is the least the travelling Aces fans will be hoping for on Thursday night as they look to gain the upper hand ahead of the second leg in Manchester on Monday.
The Aces received a huge blow ahead of their play-off campaign, losing number one and Grand Prix rider Max Fricke to injury for the rest of the year after he suffered multiple injuries in a crash in Poland last weekend. Former Ace Craig Cook will guest at number one in the Australian’s absence. Other than that, the visitors are at full strength for the fixture.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY REPORT: 2022 BRITISH FINAL
By Henry Chard
THE SCORES
1st Bewley 2nd Brennan 3rd Cook
QUALIFYING SCORES: Dan Bewley 15, Craig Cook 12, Danny King 11, Kyle Howarth 10, Tom Brennan 10, Adam Ellis 9, Richard Lawson 8, Connor Mountain 8, Charles Wright 7, Steve Worrall 7, Leon Flint 7, Chris Harris 6, Paul Starke 3, Scott Nicholls 3, Richie Worrall 2,Simon Lambert 2.
SEMI-FINAL: Brennan, King, Howarth, Ellis.
FINAL: Bewley, Brennan, Cook, King.
REFEREE: W. Jarvis
THE STORY
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches captain Danny King reached the final of the 2022 British Final at the National Speedway Stadium on Sunday as Dan Bewley won his first British title.
King was solid throughout qualifying just falling short of progressing directly to the final by a point. The skipper then had to work hard in the semi-final to book his place in the final before narrowly missing out on the podium. Ipswich’s Paul Starke also rode in the event and finished with three points.
Starke was at the back in heat two as Grand Prix rider Bewley was made to work hard to pass Kyle Howarth for the win. King flew from the start in heat four but couldn’t hold off 2021 champion Adam Ellis who made an impressive pass to win the race.
King made another terrific start in heat five to take the chequered flag, but Starke failed to score again in heat seven as Richard Lawson took victory.
The Ipswich skipper made a brilliant gate yet again in heat 12 and was a clear winner as Starke picked up his first points of the night behind him in second after getting the better of Steve Worrall.
Starke couldn’t get amongst the points in heat 13 but it was a thrilling race at the front as Connor Mountain won the battle against Richie Worrall and Scott Nicholls with all three throwing the bike at each other all race. King’s starting was excellent in heat 14 but he didn’t have the speed to hold off Craig Cook and was forced to defend second place with Leon Flint hot on his heels.
Starke finished his afternoon in heat 18 in what was another highly entertaining race. Charles Wright was the winner and Starke got himself into second early on after a smart move but then was relegated to the back by Tom Brennan and Flint. However, he salvaged a point on the run to the line beating Flint to third. King jumped out of the start in heat 19 to lead but was relegated to third after a hard move from Bewley, meaning he would have to go into the semi-final.
Brennan won the semi-final as King produced a great ride to get himself into second ahead of Ellis and Howarth and progress to the final.
King made a decent start in the final and was in the mix for a place on the podium but was edged out by Brennan and Cook but no one had any answer for Bewley who was way out in front to secure the title.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY PREVIEW: 2022 BRITISH FINAL
By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of the 2022 British Final.
WHEN & WHERE
The 2022 British Final takes place at the National Speedway Stadium on Sunday 18th September in an individual fixture that starts at 3.00pm, live on Eurosport.
LINE-UP
1. Connor Mountain 2. Leon Flint 3. Chris Harris 4. Steve Worrall 5. Kyle Howarth 6. Dan Bewley 7. Paul Starke 8. Craig Cook9. Charles Wright 10. Lewis Kerr 11. Richard Lawson 12. Richie Worrall 13. Danny King 14. Scott Nicholls 15. Adam Ellis 16. Tom Brennan. Reserves: Jordan Jenkins & Jack Shimelt
REFEREE: W. Jarvis
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online and on the gate.
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches are represented at Sunday’s British Final by Danny King and Paul Starke. The first staging of the Final in August was abandoned after 12 heats due to bad weather with no result declared. Sadly, Danyon Hume is unable to take his place in the restaging due to his collarbone injury.
King won the title at the National Speedway Stadium back in 2016 and is determined to become Britain’s number one for a second time in his career having come close in 2019 when he finished second. Starke has endured an injury-hit season and is currently nursing a sore shoulder, but he has plenty of experience in the event with this year’s appearance his sixth in total. His best performance was also in 2016 where he scored 10 points, finishing seventh in the standings and he is a rider who is capable of a good performance in Manchester.
On this occasion, the winner of this event will not receive a Wild Card for the next British Grand Prix.
The meeting will also feature the Nigel Pearson Award with supporters invited to vote after Heat 20 for their most entertaining rider from a short-list of four, as the sport pays tribute to the much-loved writer and broadcaster who passed away earlier this year.
We wish both ‘Tru Mix’ Witches the best and hope to welcome another British champion back to Suffolk.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives his pre-match thoughts…
“This Sunday we have got the restaging of the British Final. It is another chance for Danny to get a second British title which I’m sure he will be aiming for. He was in a great position in the original staging at the point it was cancelled. I’m sure he will go to Belle Vue focused in his mind on winning the meeting.
“Also, Paul is there, he has had a tough year in many respects with injuries and has taken a lot of knocks. Hopefully, he will be at a good fitness level and will put in a really good showing in the British Final. Having a cracking meeting will boost him for the rest of the season. We all know what he is capable of, and he can certainly go far in the meeting if it clicks for him on the day.
“Danyon is not fit enough yet to take his place in the line-up and he was so proud to be a part of the original meeting and I’m sure he will be disappointed but next year will be there for him and he will be focused on having another great year and getting back there.”
THE CONTENDERS
Adam Ellis will be looking to retain the crown he won in 2021 whilst current Grand Prix rider Bewley is a hot favourite for many to win his first British title at his former home track and you would expect he will be a hard man to beat on the night. Chris Harris has enjoyed a terrific season and will be keen to add to his three titles. Charles Wright is a former champion and a current Belle Vue rider, and he and current British U21 champion Tom Brennan will enjoy the support of their home fans at the National Speedway Stadium. Scott Nicholls and Craig Cook are also former winners of the event and will look to upset the odds and add to their collection.
AWAY DAYS
Tickets can be purchased here. For more information about your visit to the National Speedway Stadium, head here.
For more information about the club head to Belle Vue’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
2022 PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL DATES ANNOUNCED
The dates and venues for the 2022 Premiership play-off semi-finals have been announced now that the four teams competing in the end of season shootout have been confirmed.
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches, Sheffield Tigers, Belle Vue Aces and Wolverhampton Wolves have confirmed their places in the top four with just the final positions in the table still to be determined in the remaining league fixtures to decide who faces who in the semi-finals. The cut-off date for league fixtures is Thursday 22nd September.
The team finishing top will face the fourth placed side over two legs whilst second will take on third in the other semi-final, with the winners meeting in the final to determine the 2022 Premiership champions.
Wolverhampton’s home leg will take place on Monday 26th September, Ipswich’s will be on Thursday 29th September, Belle Vue’s will be on Monday 3rd October and Sheffield will host their home leg on Thursday 6th October.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway