By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Premiership fixture with Sheffield.
WHEN & WHERE
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches host the Sheffield Tigers at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 21st July in a Premiership fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
MEETING SPONSORS
Tru Mix – TRU7 is Ipswich’s biggest supplier of concrete. They offer a professional service with up to 8m drum ready mix or volumetric delivery on commercial and domestic loads, supplied from their state-of-the-art batching plant in Kesgrave. Dry and lean mix available to collect.
Bentley Auto & Tyre Centre Ltd – At Bentley Auto & Tyre Centre, they offer a huge range of services for all kinds of makes and models and as one of the top tyre garages they can service local areas like Bentley, Colchester, Brightlingsea, Frinton and other local villages.
TEAMS
IPSWICH: 1. Jason Doyle 9.95 2. R/R for Paul Starke 4.84 3. Danny King 7.95 © 4. Tom Brennan (g) 4.69 5. Troy Batchelor 6.17 6. Erik Riss 4.62 7. Danyon Hume (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
SHEFFIELD: 1. Jack Holder 8.21 2. Kyle Howarth 6.55 © 3. Adam Ellis 8.16 4. Craig Cook 6.55 5. R/R for Tobiasz Musielak 7.33 6. Justin Sedgmen 4.34 7. Connor Mountain (RS). Team Manager: Simon Stead
REFEREE: M. Bates
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Ipswich | 12 | 25 |
| Belle Vue | 12 | 23 |
| Sheffield | 10 | 23 |
| Wolverhampton | 12 | 21 |
| King’s Lynn | 10 | 12 |
| Peterborough | 12 | 10 |
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy on the gate and in advance online (until 7pm on raceday) and are priced at £20 for adults and £18 for concessions (65+). Children 16 and under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3 and are available at the stadium. Car parking is free for all supporters. Cash, debit and credit card payments are accepted on the night. Turnstiles open at 6.40pm.
THE STORY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches take on the Sheffield Tigers at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday evening as they aim to stay top of the Premiership table. Ipswich went back to the top of the standings last Thursday with their biggest win of the season at Foxhall against Belle Vue. On Monday, the Suffolk side then made it three wins on the bounce in the Pairs competition at Wolverhampton to consolidate their position at the top of the standings. Thursday’s opponents are the only side to win at Foxhall in the league so far this year and the Witches know they will need to carry on their good form and be at their best to record victory.
The hosts will once again be without Paul Starke for the fixture. Starke suffered thumb ligament damage in a crash at Sheffield last month and rider replacement will be in operation at number two but Starke intends to return to action next week. Ipswich will also be without Ben Barker who aggravated his shoulder injury on Tuesday night at Plymouth and Tom Brennan will guest in his place at number four. Barker is having further tests and is receiving physio on the injury.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“We were hoping on Thursday that Starkey would be back, and it would have delighted us all if we could have fielded a full team, but we certainly don’t want to rush him back especially when we have got a break after Thursday as a team. It would be lovely to have a full and fit one to seven, but we want our one to seven to be fit not half fit.
“We have gone with the same riding order as we did last week. We are often changing it about not just for experimental reasons, but rider’s fitness and injuries comes into the thinking too. I wouldn’t say there is a preferred order, we have got a few that will work and a few combinations that will be very good. I’m feeling quite pleased that we have that variety if we need it and next month the riding order will change again with Erik going back into the team and that is something I will have to review again.
“Sheffield bring a very strong side but we have got a strong side as well. Yes, they are a very good team, but I don’t think there is anyone in the league that we can’t compete with and beat. I fully believe if we perform how we are capable of then we can win.”
THE TIGERS
Sheffield were many people’s favourites for the title in 2022 and the first half of the season suggests they will certainly be contenders in the play-offs. The Tigers are currently third in the table with meetings in hand on the top two and a win at Foxhall would take them top. Sheffield have a 100% record at home and have picked up two wins on the road at Ipswich and King’s Lynn.
It’s hard to find a weakness in the line-up with strength from top to bottom with Grand Prix rider Jack Holder at number one and British champion Adam Ellis at three. Rider replacement will be used at number five for the injured Tobiasz Musielak after he crashed in Poland last week. Craig Cook often goes well at Foxhall and is joined by captain Kyle Howarth in the engine room of the side. Justin Sedgmen was a recent signing to add further strength to the bottom end of the side and he is at reserve with Rising Star Connor Mountain.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway