By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture with Birmingham.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Birmingham Brummies at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 29th August in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 fixture. Parade: 7.30pm, first race: 7:45pm.
MEETING SPONSORS
The Fat Cat Ipswich – They are a small, friendly Free House where you can enjoy a wide selection of up to twenty real ales served straight from the cask from our temperature-controlled tap room. Also, on offer are up to seven real ciders as well as a selection of gins, whiskies, rums, wines and Belgian beers. They are a pub about the beer and the people so whether it is lively debate you’re after or a quiet pint in the greenery filled garden, you can find it there!
The Fat Cat Colchester – Fat Cat Colchester is a well-established free house serving a great selection of ales, wines, spirits and food. You’ll be warmly greeted by their friendly atmosphere, the oak bar with a row of hand pumps advertising a selection of real ales. Above the bar, a blackboard details the wide range of beers sourced locally, nationally and from abroad.
Ipswich Town Football Club – They offer an extensive range of hospitality, advertising and sponsorship opportunities to place your business front and centre, plus unforgettable experiences for their passionate and loyal supporters.
Whether you’re looking to catapult your brand through a bespoke partnership or impress and engage key clients at a memorable match day, Ipswich Town Football Club is the place to do it.
TEAMS
IPSWICH: 1. Scott Nicholls (G) 9.36 2. Dan Thompson 5.02 (RS) 3. Danny King 6.98 © 4. Troy Batchelor (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
BIRMINGHAM: 1. Fredrik Lindgren © 7.59 2. R/R for Piotr Pawlicki 5.26 3. Antti Vuolas (G) 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
REFEREE: M. Wear
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 23 | 41 |
| Belle Vue | 24 | 37 |
| Leicester | 21 | 34 |
| Ipswich | 23 | 34 |
| Oxford | 23 | 26 |
| King’s Lynn* | 21 | 18 |
| Birmingham | 23 | 8 |
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 race their final league fixture of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership against Birmingham on Thursday night at Foxhall.
The Suffolk side will compete in the play-offs and race in the Knockout Cup final next week against Sheffield but Thursday represents a chance to end the regular campaign on a high note before the stakes are raised.
Having lost four on the trot and suffered a host of fresh injury problems, a patched-up Ipswich side were narrowly beaten 47-43 at Birmingham on Monday, making it five without a win for Ipswich.
The home team are without Jason Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov and Adam Ellis again on Thursday. Scott Nicholls guests at number one whilst Troy Batchelor is in for Ellis. Rider replacement will be used to cover Sayfutdinov. In more positive news, Keynan Rew is fit enough to return to the side at reserve.
The Witches have beaten the Brummies on both of their visits to Foxhall, 49-41 and 51-39 and a win by more than four points on Thursday would see them claim the aggregate bonus point and end the regular season on a positive result.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“It is our last league meeting of the year and overall, it has been a very good season. The last couple of weeks have been tough but we want to end the season on a high and win at home. I’m sure everyone will be coming out to support the boys again and we need a win to get out of this losing streak before the cup final.
“We know Scott is going to be here every week that he can, he has been superb, and we have spoken a lot about that. In the three bookings Troy has done, he has done well. Looking at someone from the Championship that you can fit in on Adam’s average, he is by far the best option. We know he is capable of going out and beating any rider at any time, so it is good to have him.
“I have nothing new to say about Emil, he is still recovering. There was a chance Adam might be fit for Thursday, but his goal is to be fit for Monday. Keynan will be back for Thursday, that is the plan.
“The play-off picture hasn’t mattered to us over the last week or so once we knew that we weren’t going to win the league. There are pros and cons to racing any of the other three teams, we are happy to go against anyone. For us, Thursday is about getting the win on the night and trying to get three points to finish the season on a high.”
THE BRUMMIES
Birmingham’s first season back in the top-flight since 2014 promised to be an exciting one but in truth it is a season they will be pleased to see the back off. The Brummies will finish bottom of the table and are yet to pick up any points away from home. The visitors will see the depleted Witches as an opportunity to end the season on a high and get that first win on the road to follow up Monday’s home win against Ipswich.
The away side are without Piotr Pawlicki who doesn’t feel able to take his place in the side and Wiktor Lampart who is unwell. Antti Vuolas comes in for Lampart whilst rider replacement is in operation for Pawlicki.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway