By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture with Belle Vue.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Belle Vue Aces at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 22nd August in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture. Parade: 7.30pm, first race: 7:45pm.
MEETING SPONSORS
RN Euston – RN Euston Limited has supplied steel framed buildings in East Anglia for over 40 years. Established by Ray Euston the business has grown steadily over the years and now Ray works in partnership with his son Mark. The company is based in Suffolk and work all over East Anglia where they have gained a reliable reputation.
George Baker Shipping – George Baker (Shipping) Ltd has been a household name within the freight community for over 40 years. Despite its growth and success, George Baker Shipping continues to adhere to the same core values on which the company was founded. To this day, the business remains in the Baker family and is now under the ownership of George and Libby’s children, David Baker and Sharon Binns. Over 40 years on, the company is renowned as customs specialists, whilst also being recognised for its diversified and innovative high-quality logistics services.
TEAMS
IPSWICH: 1. Scott Nicholls (G) 9.36 2. Dan Thompson 5.02 (RS) 3. Danny King 6.98 © 4. Zach Cook (G) 5.63 5. R/R for Emil Sayfutdinov 9.04 6. Keynan Rew 4.77 7. Jordan Jenkins 3.66. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
BELLE VUE: 1. Dan Bewley 8.96 2. Norick Blödorn 5.23 3. Jaimon Lidsey 7.63 4. Ben Cook 6.58 5. Brady Kurtz 8.65 © 6. Antti Vuolas 4.55 7. Jake Mulford (RS). Team Manager: Mark Lemon
REFEREE: P. Carrington
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 21 | 38 |
| Leicester | 21 | 34 |
| Ipswich | 21 | 34 |
| Belle Vue | 20 | 31 |
| Oxford | 22 | 25 |
| King’s Lynn* | 19 | 14 |
| Birmingham | 22 | 6 |
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online (until 7pm on raceday) and on the gate and are priced at £23 for adults and £21 for concessions (65+) & students (21 & under). Tickets for children aged 6-16 are £1 whilst children 5 & under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3.50 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 Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches end a busy spell at Foxhall on Thursday evening when they take on the Belle Vue Aces in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The busy schedule has coincided with an injury-crisis as Emil Sayfutdinov joined long-term absentee Jason Doyle on the sidelines and Adam Ellis suffered a bang to the head meaning a mandatory period out. Scott Nicholls guests for Doyle whilst Zach Cook deputises for Ellis. Rider replacement will be in operation for Sayfutdinov.
There is no hiding that the team are going through a tough period having suffered their first two home defeats of the season in the last week with injuries taking their toll on the side. Having spent the majority of the season at the top of the table, top spot now looks out of reach, but a play-off spot is already confirmed for the Suffolk side. Thursday presents a new opportunity, and two points is the objective for Ritchie Hawkins’ men who would have to produce something very special to take the aggregate bonus point as well having been beaten 26-58 in Manchester earlier in the season.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“Scott is back, and we will use him as often as possible, he has been brilliant this season. We have had to get a guest for Adam until he serves his mandatory suspension for concussion, so Zach comes in for him and he is a rider we have talked to a little bit over the last couple of years. It will be great to see how he goes, he has been in and out with Birmingham this year but is certainly an improving rider and is doing well at the moment. It will be good to have him part of the side for the first time.
“We will have to go with R/R for Emil, we tried to get a guest and tried a few riders from Leicester after their great performance last week but none of them were available. We know that means it puts a lot of pressure on the other boys in the team and it will be a tough night but if they can all perform to their best then we have still got a good shout of winning the meeting.
“Emil is back home now and recovering from his injury and we hope to have a clearer picture on things soon.
“At the moment we are going through a tough period, we have lost the spearhead of the team, so we have got a choice. As a team we can fold in, as a club we can give up or we can all band together and support each other. I would certainly like to do the latter and I hope everyone will support the team who have been superb for near-on two seasons now. They have done the town and club proud, and it is a side that I am proud to be a part of. When times are tough it is when we need the support most and I would really appreciate everyone backing us and supporting the boys on Thursday night in this tough time.”
THE ACES
Belle Vue sit fourth in the table but are still in the mix to finish top of the table after another strong campaign. The foundations to their good form have once again been made at home where they have been beaten just once. The Aces find it tougher on the road though with just two wins and seven defeats on their travels. The aggregate bonus point is the minimum the Aces will be after on Thursday as they look to take advantage of Ipswich’s injury troubles and if they were to pick up three points it would set them up nicely for home and away fixtures against leaders Sheffield which could be decisive in the race to finish top.
The visitors have two new reserves since they last took on the Witches with Antti Vuolas and Jake Mulford being signed to replace the duo of Tate Zischke and Connor Bailey.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway