By Henry Chard
THE SCORES
IPSWICH 51: Emil Sayfutdinov 12+1, Adam Ellis 7+1, Danny King © 11+2, Keynan Rew 4+1, Scott Nicholls (G) 7, Jordan Jenkins 4+1, Dan Thompson (RS) 6+1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
BELLE VUE 39: Brady Kurtz © 13, Norick Blödorn 5+1, Jaimon Lidsey 4, Ben Cook 0, Dan Bewley 9, Connor Mountain 7, Connor Bailey (RS) 1+1. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
REFEREE: P. Carrington
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Oxford | 2 | 4 |
| Ipswich | 1 | 2 |
| Leicester | 1 | 2 |
| Birmingham | 1 | 0 |
| Sheffield | 1 | 0 |
| King’s Lynn | 1 | 0 |
| Belle Vue | 1 | 0 |
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches began their 2024 ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign with victory over the Belle Vue Aces on Thursday night at Foxhall.
The hosts were missing Jason Doyle due to personal reasons with Scott Nicholls guesting in his absence on opening night. The scores were level after six races but despite being without their Grand Prix star, Ipswich managed to kick on and record a comfortable win to get their season started. Emil Sayfutdinov top scored with 12+1.
The visitors struck an early heat advantage in heat one as Brady Kurtz held off Sayfutdinov and in heat two Dan Thompson had to work hard for the win in a shared heat. Witches skipper Danny King levelled the score in heat three as he raced to victory in a 4-2. Dan Bewley won heat four in a 3-3 that left it all square at 12-12.
Kurtz picked up another win in heat five and it looked like the hosts would edge ahead in heat six, but Bewley had other ideas, passing both Ipswich riders in a 3-3. Ben Cook was excluded from heat seven after a fall and the home team took full advantage in the re-run as Nicholls and Jordan Jenkins raced to a 5-1. Ipswich extended the lead in heat eight as Adam Ellis took the chequered flag in a 4-2 which gave the Suffolk side a 27-21 lead.
Belle Vue team manager Mark Lemon put captain Kurtz in as a tactical substitute in heat nine and he continued his fine form with another win as King managed to hold off Bewley for second, resulting in a 2-4 to the away side. Sayfutdinov got his first win of the season in heat 10 and was followed home by Ellis for a maximum however this was immediately cancelled out in heat 11 as Kurtz and Norick Blödorn returned the favour. King picked up another three points in heat 12 with Thompson third for a point to give the Witches a 4-2 and a 39-33 lead.
Sayfutdinov was the winner in heat 13 in another heat advantage to Ipswich and victory was mathematically secured in heat 14 with the race awarded as a 3-3 following Cook’s crash late on in the race. The home side added some further gloss to the scoreline with a 5-1 from Sayfutdinov and King in heat 15 to make the final score 51-39.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s win against Belle Vue.
“I’m really happy, it was certainly a tricky night and a potential banana skin against a very good Belle Vue team. We coped with them well and improved during the meeting, every single rider. It was everything I could have asked for from an opening night.
“Everyone scored and everyone contributed, nobody struggled throughout the meeting consistently. Losing Doyley is a massive blow to our team, but Scott came in and did a really good job and I’m really happy he could guest. His contribution took the pressure off the other boys.
“We certainly looked rusty at the start of the night, but they made changes and improved and that was good to see. They were trying things and getting things figured out which you wouldn’t expect to happen overnight, but they did it quickly.
“It was great to see a good crowd in for opening night giving us good backing and I’m sure they were all entertained again, and we have got a long season ahead, but it was a positive start.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Captain King impressed by recording a score of 11+2 from five rides that included two race wins.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich are off the mark and put two points to their name whilst Belle Vue travel back empty-handed and will have to wait to record their first points of 2024.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Birmingham Brummies at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 28th March in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway