Ipswich rising star Jason Edwards says a case of mistaken identity helped him storm to an unforgettable win over Britain’s world No.3 Dan Bewley as the Tru7 Group Witches lost a 51-39 thriller at Belle Vue on Monday.
The 2025 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership champions suffered defeat on the night they launched their title defence in Manchester, despite powering into a 21-15 lead after six races.
Belle Vue needed three big 5-1s from world No.2 Brady Kurtz and Bewley – the first of those featuring a tactical substitute ride from the Aussie in heat seven – to claim a 12-point win over the Witches.
But the hosts did not have it all their own way as Bewley was defeated in heat four by a ride to remember from the fast-gating Edwards, who was brilliantly shepherded home by Tobiasz Musielak in second.
Edwards was elated to see the Pole following him home as he crossed the finish line. He said: “It’s funny because I didn’t know it was Tobi. I thought it was Dan chasing me, so I was trying as hard as I possibly could, and then I looked as I went over the line and realised it was Tobi. I watched it back online and Tobi did everything.
“The nice thing early on at Belle Vue is Dan and Brady can’t do the big laps that they do. When heat 13 comes, they can make people look stupid. If you can get a start early on and get your head down, you can get the win.”
Edwards was pleased to show his class on a National Speedway Stadium track, where he hasn’t always enjoyed the best of fortunes. He said: “For me personally, it was my best meeting at Belle Vue. It’s always a really tough place to go. The nice thing is everywhere I am going at the moment, I am improving a lot from what I did last year and gradually getting there, so that’s a really positive step.
“We go on about how much speedway is a starting game and it’s a massive part. But I have also had time to watch what I have done wrong and what I can do better, and I am enjoying my racing, which is the main thing.
“When you are enjoying it and you’re around a good group of people, both at Ipswich and my Championship club Redcar, it does make a massive difference. It’s nice to start the season this way, but we still have a long way to go yet.”
Edwards admits Belle Vue’s tactical move in heat seven, which saw Kurtz replace reserve Tate Zischke to lead Bewley to a 5-1, turned the tide firmly in the Aces’ favour.
He said: “It flipped the meeting on its head really. The way the Belle Vue team is, they are really top-heavy with Dan and Brady. I have never known a tactical substitution be made so early. But it did the trick for them. The track altered a bit after that moment, and they must have really put their foot down.”
Next up for the Witches is a Premiership Knockout Cup Southern Section showdown with league newcomers Northampton at Foxhall on Thursday.
Victory will take Ipswich through to the Final against the winners of the Northern Section. Should cup holders Leicester win or draw at home to Sheffield on Thursday, the Lions will guarantee their place in the Final
Tickets for Witches’ crucial Northampton fixture are available online HERE now, with the meeting also set to be streamed live via WitchesTV HERE.