Ipswich skipper Danny King had mixed feelings as the Tru7 Group Witches powered to a 50-40 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership win at home to Belle Vue on Thursday.
After going down 62-28 in Manchester on Monday, the Suffolk side hit back with a comfortable win in front of their home fans, despite losing Swedish star Philip Hellstrom-Bangs to a crash in heat seven.
They were unable to take maximum points as a 5-1 from Belle Vue in heat 15 denied them the bonus point 91-89 on aggregate after the Aces won 51-39 in the teams’ first meeting at the National Speedway Stadium on April 20.
While King was frustrated to miss out on the extra league point, he said: “I thought we put in a good performance. There were a few mistakes here and there, and losing Philip again doesn’t help. Giving Jason (Edwards) so many rides on the bounce as a result doesn’t help either. I thought we would be able to get it over the line. Unfortunately, we just fell a bit short there, but it was good to get the home win.”
King and Richard Lawson joined forces to face Aces pair Brady Kurtz and guest Chris Harris in heat 15, which saw the Manchester club race to the 5-1 they needed to snatch the aggregate bonus point.
The Witches skipper feels a long period of time off the bike ahead of heat 15 didn’t help his chances.
He said: “I am disappointed about that last race. It’s very difficult at No.2. I know it is working for the team at the minute, but it is tough having that long break from heat 10 to heat 15. It’s do-able; it’s just tough.
“I had the dreaded gate four, which did not do much all night. I actually made a good start, but Bomber and I collided on the way to the first bend, and it just set me off.
“Coming out of the first bend next to Richard, my options were limited then because I couldn’t mess him up. I was just hoping one of us could get past, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.”
Next up for the Witches is a visit to Northampton on Monday, before they travel to King’s Lynn next Thursday. King admits there is still work to do for his side if they are to defend their Rowe Motor Oil Premiership crown.
He said: “I still don’t think everyone is clicking at the minute. But this was a good performance, and it goes to show we are capable. We just have to get our heads down and try to get some more consistency.”
FINAL SCORES
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES 50: 1. Tom Brennan 5+3, 2. Danny King 10, 3. Richard Lawson 11+1, 4. Scott Nicholls 8+1, 5. Tobiasz Musielak 9, 6. Philip-Hellstrom Bangs 1+1, 7. Jason Edwards 6+1.
BELLE VUE ACES 40: 1. Brady Kurtz 14+1, 2. Rider Replacement – Zach Cook, 3. Peter Kildemand 5, 4. Norick Blodorn 3, 5. Chris Harris 13+2, 6. Tate Zischke 4+1, 7. Will Cairns 1+1.