Ipswich team manager Paul Hurry hailed the track craft of his Tru7 Group Witches as they stormed to a 49-41 victory in Northampton’s historic, first-ever home fixture on Thursday.
Despite reaching the Premiership Knockout Cup Final against holders Leicester with victory over the Foxes at Foxhall seven days earlier, Ipswich put Northampton the sword to make it four wins from four in the competition’s Southern Section.
Even with the hosts spending the day practising on the Brafield track, Witches’ skipper Danny King led partner Tom Brennan to a 5-1 in the first race staged in front of a sizeable crowd.
That set the tone on a night when Polish racer Tobiasz Musielak topped the Ipswich score chart on 13, with Richard Lawson tallying 10 paid 13, while Scott Nicholls notched nine paid 10 and King won three races on his way to nine.
Hurry was proud to see his side defy their lack of Northampton track knowledge and pile up the points.
He said: “When we all got there and walked out on track, we were thinking, ‘Wow, this isn’t quite what we expected.’ But the boys all went there with an open mind.
“The main body of the team are all experienced enough to be able to deal with these tracks. It’s one that was a lot smaller than we expected. If they can do anything, our boys can turn a bike. All of our boys can ride small tracks really well, so that helps. Going there with the unknown as to what conditions would be like and what the material was going to be and feel like was tough, but they all took it in their stride and dealt with it.”
Hurry was delighted with Musielak’s Northampton heroics. He added: “Tobi is world class. There is no reason why Tobi couldn’t go all the way in this sport – he is that good. When you get conditions like they were, he takes them in his stride and gets on with it.”
The Witches boss was also pleased to see good friend Nicholls roar into form. He said: “Scott has invested a lot of money through the winter in his equipment and it’s just a matter of getting it dialled in now.
“When you come to tracks like that where it comes down to ability, then Scott’s ability comes through head and shoulders.
“He is probably fitter than most with the amount he trains and puts into it. When it all comes together, that’s what happens. He is still a class act and that’s why he’s at Ipswich.”
Despite seeing his side storm to maximum points, Hurry had nothing but praise for the Premiership’s newest club.
He said: “What a decent track and a decent setup. With the effort, time and finances that have gone into getting it over the line, you have to give full credit to Paul Hunsdon, Tony Gaul and Buster Chapman. They have put in a hell of a shift. It was a brilliant crowd too.”
Next up for the Witches is a hotly-anticipated East Anglian derby clash at home to King’s Lynn on Bank Holiday Monday, with tapes-up at 2.15pm.
Advance tickets are available online HERE now, with cash or card accepted on race day. The Stars fixture is also available to watch live on WitchesTV, CLICK HERE to tune in.
FINAL SCORES
NORTHAMPTON FOXES 41: 1. Jaimon Lidsey 7+1, 2. Troy Batchelor 5, 3. Matej Zagar 8+1, 4. Kyle Howarth 7, 5. Nicolai Klindt 3+1, 6. Kye Thomson 4+1, 7. Luke Harrison 7+2.
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES 49: 1. Tom Brennan 5+2, 2. Danny King 9, 3. Richard Lawson 10+3, 4. Scott Nicholls 9+1, 5. Tobiasz Musielak 13, 6. Philip Hellstrom-Bangs 1, 7. Jason Edwards 2+1.