By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg fixture with Leicester.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Leicester to face the Lions at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena on Monday 1st April in Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
LEICESTER: 1. Max Fricke 8.84 © 2. Richard Lawson 6.67 3. Sam Masters 6.96 4. Luke Becker 6.95 5. Ryan Douglas 7.10 6. Drew Kemp 4.22 7. Joe Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Stewart Dickson
IPSWICH: 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 10.22 2. Jordan Jenkins 4.37 3. Danny King 7.28 © 4. Adam Ellis 5.67 5. Jason Doyle 9.12 6. Keynan Rew 4.00 7. Dan Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: A. Steele
KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW
QUARTER-FINALS
Sheffield v Belle Vue
Ipswich v Leicester
TICKETS
Tickets are available to purchase online in advance here and on the gate.
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches begin their defence of the Knockout Cup against Leicester with the first leg of the quarter-final on Monday evening at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena.
The Witches won the competition in 2023 and met the Lions at the same stage of the cup during that run, winning both the home and away legs against the Lions. There are changes to the visitors’ line-up due to the latest averages released. Keynan Rew drops to reserve with Jordan Jenkins moving to number two whilst Adam Ellis is now at number four.
It will be Ipswich’s first away trip of 2024, having won both of their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership fixtures so far at Foxhall as they look to carry on that form on their travels and put themselves in a good position to advance to the next round in the second leg at Foxhall on Thursday.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“Next week is going to be very tough, it is a tough draw. We will go there knowing we had great results there last year, but they will be confident in the strength of their side, and they will be confident they can go a job at Foxhall too.
“They have lots of riders that ride Foxhall well, so we have got to go there on Monday and look to perform and win that first leg. The cup run last year was terrific and we want to carry that on and get through this tough tie and hopefully we can go on another run.
“We have known this is going to happen with the averages before the season started and the boys had a plan as we knew about it weeks ago. Jordan moves into the team and that shows the progress he has made over the last few years, to progress from Rising Star to the reserve berth, to number two. That is where you want your career to go, and it is great to see him progressing.
“Keynan has started the season well but a little spell at reserve should do him the world of good. I needed Adam to do a couple of meetings at number two, but he goes to number four now, and we will see how him and Danny get on as a partnership.”
THE LIONS
Leicester agonisingly missed out on the top four last season being pipped by Ipswich to the final spot for the play-offs and were also defeated by the Witches at the Knockout Cup quarter-final stage. The hosts will be looking to avoid history repeating itself in the cup and know they cannot afford defeat in their home leg this time around. The Lions won their 2024 opener on home shale, defeating the King’s Lynn Stars 47-42.
Stewart Dickson’s side have retained three of their 2023 side in Max Fricke, Richard Lawson and Drew Kemp whilst adding three former Wolverhampton riders over the winter in Sam Masters, Ryan Douglas and Luke Becker. Former Witch Joe Thompson is their Rising Star and will come up against his twin brother Dan on Monday.
AWAY DAYS
An adult ticket costs £22, concessions £20, children (6-17) £1 and children aged 5 and under go free. There will be 235 free car park spaces available at the stadium with further free car parking facilities on the Beaumont Shopping Complex (maximum time of 4 hours). Three Coach/Mini Bus spaces, 15 Disabled spaces available, 15 Motorcycle spaces, Taxi drop-off point. For travel information head here.
For more information about the club head to Leicester’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway