By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture with Birmingham.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Birmingham to face the Brummies at the Perry Barr Stadium on Monday 26th August in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
BIRMINGHAM: 1. Fredrik Lindgren © 7.59 2. R/R for Piotr Pawlicki 5.26 3. Wiktor Lampart 4.94 4. Zach Cook 5.05 5. Tom Brennan 6.07 6. Michael Palm Toft 4.31 7. Leon Flint (RS). Team Manager: Sam Ermolenko
IPSWICH: 1. Richard Lawson (G) 9.36 2. Dan Thompson (RS) 5.02 3. Sam Masters (G) 9.04 4. Troy Batchelor (G) 5.63 5. Danny King © 6.98 6. Cameron Heeps (G) 4.77 7. Jordan Jenkins 3.66. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: C. Ackroyd
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 21 | 38 |
| Leicester | 21 | 34 |
| Belle Vue | 21 | 34 |
| Ipswich | 22 | 34 |
| Oxford | 23 | 26 |
| King’s Lynn* | 20 | 16 |
| Birmingham | 22 | 6 |
TICKETS
Tickets are available to purchase on the gate and in advance here.
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches are back on their travels again on Monday as they race the Birmingham Brummies in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The Suffolk side have just had three home meetings on the bounce where their injury problems mounted further in three defeats. The Witches have dropped from first to fourth in the table after four straight defeats having had the wind knocked out of their sails by losing more riders to the treatment table.
It is another patched-up team that heads to Birmingham with four guests coming into the side. Ryan Douglas was due to guest at number one for the injured Jason Doyle but crashed whilst riding in Poland on Sunday with Richard Lawson now stepping in. Sam Masters comes in for the injured Emil Sayfutdinov. Adam Ellis was due to return to action after his period on the sidelines having suffered a concussion, but he is still struggling following the bang to the head and needs another week of rest. Troy Batchelor guests at number four in his absence.
Keynan Rew is also missing as he is still feeling the effects of his crash during last Thursday’s defeat to Belle Vue and Cameron Heeps will guest at reserve.
Ipswich have visited Perry Barr twice in 2024 losing 49-41 in the league and winning 46-44 in the Knockout Cup. Ritchie Hawkins’ men will be aiming to get back to winning ways against the division’s basement side as they look to build momentum up again before the Knockout Cup final and play-offs.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“We head to Birmingham with a patched-up side full of guests. It is not something we want to be doing but it is the situation we are in at the moment. I feel we are putting out a strong side and have two Leicester riders in. Sam goes very well at Birmingham and was very keen to take the booking.
“Adam is not going to be fit, he is still suffering some effects from his knock to the head last week so Troy will come in as a guest again. I thought he did a decent job at Ipswich the other night and we know what he is all about.
“The main focus is on the cup final now, but we have got Birmingham home and away and they have struggled this year. We are focused on getting two wins to get back into winning ways before the cup final.
“Birmingham have had a tough season back in the top-flight, but they will look at this looking to end their season on a high. They will see it as an opportunity to beat us seeing as we are hampered with injuries, so we will have to perform if we want to win the meeting as they will see it as chance to get a win on the board as well.
“Emil is at home recovering and is hopeful of trying to get back for the play-offs in Poland and England. Whether that proves to be too difficult a task or not we will know more about in the coming weeks.”
THE BRUMMIES
Birmingham have had a wretched return to the top-flight of British Speedway and find themselves marooned at the bottom of the table with just six points to their name. They have won just two fixtures all season, both at home and will be keen to give their supporters something to cheer in their last home fixture of 2024 on Monday.
There have been plenty of team changes throughout the season at Birmingham as they have tried to find the winning formula. Zach Cook is back in the side having been dropped earlier in the season whilst Michael Palm Toft has replaced the unwell Steve Worrall since they last faced Ipswich.
AWAY DAYS
An adult ticket costs £23, concessions £20, students (17-22 with proof of ID) £10 and children 16 and under go free. Official programmes cost £3.00 and car parking is £3.00. There is a modern three level grandstand extending for the full length of the home straight. On ground level there is a bar and refreshments area plus souvenir sales shop. Closed circuit television monitors show the racing and replays. There are also extensive bar and restaurant and light refreshment facilities.
For more information about the club head to Birmingham’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway