SCORECARD
BIRMINGHAM 41: Tobiasz Musielak © 16, Paco Castagna 7, Michael Jepsen Jensen R/R, Keynan Rew 6+1, Matej Zagar 6+1, Jonas Jeppesen 2, Jason Edwards (RS) 4+1. Team Manager: Chris Adams
IPSWICH 49: Jason Doyle R/R, Adam Ellis 9, Emil Sayfutdinov 9+2, Danny King © 8, Tom Brennan 10+2, Danyon Hume (G) 2+1, Jordan Jenkins (RS) 11+1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: C. Durno
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Ipswich | 8 | 16 |
| Belle Vue | 8 | 15 |
| Sheffield | 7 | 14 |
| Leicester | 7 | 9 |
| Oxford | 9 | 5 |
| King’s Lynn | 8 | 4 |
| Birmingham | 7 | 0 |
THE REPORT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches returned to winning ways at Birmingham on Monday night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The visitors arrived at Perry Barr without the injured duo of Jason Doyle and Dan Thompson with rider replacement in operation at number one and Danyon Hume guesting at number six. The hosts were using rider replacement at number three for Michael Jepsen Jensen who quit the club over the weekend. Despite the injuries and suffering a number of mechanical issues whilst in scoring positions in the first half of the meeting, the Witches held an eight-point lead after nine races. The Brummies fought back with the help of a tactical substitute to narrow that lead to just two points, but it wasn’t enough as the Suffolk side secured the win with a race to spare. Jordan Jenkins top scored with 11+1.
Heat one didn’t get past the first turn as Tobiasz Musielak was the victim of some first bend bunching. Tom Brennan won the re-run with Adam Ellis third for a heat advantage as Musielak retired at the back. That was followed by a maximum in heat two thanks to Jenkins and Hume. Emil Sayfutdinov led heat three but retired with machinery problems allowing Keynan Rew to win in a 4-2. There were more mechanical gremlins for Ipswich in heat four as Brennan retired on the opening lap which resulted in another heat advantage to Birmingham making it 11-13 to Ipswich overall.
Heat five eventually got going at the third time of asking and it was worth the wait for the Witches as Ellis and Sayfutdinov raced to a maximum. The home team registered a 4-2 in heat six as Musielak won but Brennan worked hard to get the better of Paco Castagna for second and Hume retired. Danny King and Sayfutdinov then teamed up for a 1-5 in heat seven with Jonas Jeppesen the latest rider to not complete the race. Ellis and Jenkins looked set for another maximum in heat eight but yet again bike issues intervened with Ellis dropping out of the race, meaning it ended in a 3-3 as Jenkins fended off the Castagna charge, making it 20-28 overall.
Brennan took victory in a shared heat nine and the home team pulled two points back in heat 10 with a 4-2. Birmingham team manager Chris Adams put Musielak out as a tactical substitute in heat 11 and it had the desired effect as he and Matej Zagar hit a 5-1, putting them just two points behind. Sayfutdinov couldn’t be caught in heat 12 as Jenkins finished third for a Witches 2-4 giving the away team a 34-38 lead.
The points were shared in heat 13 and Ipswich secured the victory in heat 14 with a 1-5 awarded after Rew crashed out late on in the race whilst chasing King at the front as Jenkins was promoted into second. The final race of the night ended in a 3-3 as the travelling supporters celebrated a fourth away win of the season in the league.
RITCHIE HAWKINS REACTION
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s win at Birmingham…
“I thought it was a great performance, and we bounced back from Thursday despite being two riders down. We needed a full team performance to cover R/R and Dan’s absence, and we had a performance from six riders that all had a win or a paid win. It was solid throughout and I’m really happy with that. We had a few mechanical gremlins that made life hard for us but on reflection it was good to have them tonight and get them out the way all in one go seeing as we still got the win! It certainly made it too close for comfort and is something we can’t afford to be happening later on in the season.
“Every rider had different problems; things that can happen and rarely happen and they all happened in one go. It is good to get them out of the way and I’m delighted with the boys, and we are all leaving really happy.
“Jordan had another excellent night here and it was great to see him bounce back from a couple of tough meetings. He really stepped up to the plate and top scored in an away win so you can’t ask for more than that. Overall, we covered R/R well too.
“We will know more about Jason and Dan as the week progresses regarding a timescale of how long they will be out for. We are at the stage that we know they are injured we just need to know the extent of the damage and recovery times and we should know that this week.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Fans online voted for reserve Jenkins who top scored with 11+1 and stepped up in the absence of Thompson.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich pick up another two points and remain top of the table whilst Birmingham stay bottom and are yet to pick up any points in 2025.
NEXT FIXTURE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Leicester Lions at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 22nd May in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership fixture. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Press Officer at Ipswich Speedway