Ipswich team manager Paul Hurry was pleased to see Tom Brennan rebuilding his confidence without the pressure of being Tru7 Group Witches No.1 as his side saw off Northampton 47-42 at Foxhall on Thursday.
Witches won the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership contest, despite starting the night with a six-man side, which was reduced to five riders when Scott Nicholls tangled with Foxes reserve signing Mitch McDiarmid in heat six.
Despite that blow, 13-point contributions from both skipper Danny King and Tobiasz Musielak inspired Ipswich to victory, while Brennan also enjoyed a much-improved night on nine paid 11.
The double FIM Speedway of Nations world champion finally swapped the burden of the tough No.1 position for No.4 after his average dropped, and he thrived in his new role.
Having suffered a broken tibia and fibula during practice for an event in California last October, Brennan has been battling to get back to his best.
But Hurry was pleased with what he saw against Northampton. He said: “Tom came to the party. Tom has been scarred and he’s going to take time to get his confidence back. It has been knocked big time. Tom was a lot more confident against Northampton. His riding is only going to improve. Hopefully we get the old Tom back soon.”
Hurry believes many do not understand the battle Brennan has faced to regain his best form. He added: “He had a similar injury to what Valentino Rossi did. Look how long it took him to come back – it was over a year to get back to his best. The injury he had was quite severe, and people don’t realise that.”
Hurry admits losing Nicholls to a crash certainly didn’t help his side’s chances. He said: “I was absolutely gutted to lose Scott so early because the track was good. It was probably the best it has been this season.
“I think with the way the track was and the way Scott started off, he would have been a big player. It wasn’t to be. Mitch McDiarmid’s footrest went into his front wheel and sent him over the handlebars.
“But on the other hand, the boys all pulled together and got the result. I am well happy to have got those two points, which are vital for us now. We need a few more.”
Next up at Foxhall is a home clash with Leicester on August 20. Advance tickets are available online HERE.
FINAL SCORES
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES 47: 1. Rider Replacement – Richard Lawson, 2. Scott Nicholls 2+1, 3. Danny King 13, 4. Tom Brennan 9+2, 5. Tobiasz Musielak 13+1, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen 4+2, 7. Jason Edwards 6+1.
NORTHAMPTON FOXES 42: 1. Niels Kristian Iversen 4, 2. Rider Replacement – Kye Thomson, 3. Nicolai Klindt 5+1, 4. Adam Ellis 20, 5. Jaimon Lidsey 9, 6. Mitch McDiarmid 2, 7. Luke Harrison 2.