Ipswich Witches column: Ritchie Hawkins' side lay down marker in dream start at Peterborough Panthers with Emil Sayfudinov starring on debut
Ipswich Witches made an early statement of intent with a six-point victory at Peterborough Panthers in their opening Premiership meeting on Monday.
After a rained-off opening night at Foxhall last Thursday, the Suffolk team and their many fans cheered on their side to a wonderful victory after coming from six points down with just five heats left to grab both points.
It was a thrilling meeting to open the season, with plenty of passing on a smooth track with the Witches showing good early season form.
And for Ipswich promoter Chris Louis, who has worked tirelessly throughout the winter to secure the services of former world No.3, Emil Sayfudinov, it was a night to savour.
Sayfudinov and former world champion and Witches no.1 Jason Doyle, brought the bacon home in heats 13 and 15 with maximum 5-1 scores as the Witches left the East of England Arena triumphant.
It was the dream start Louis and team manager Ritchie Hawkins had hoped for.
“I’m delighted to get an away win on the board early because it gives us a really good start to the league season,” Hawkins said.
“I was really happy with all seven of the team, obviously there is room for improvement, clearly at the bottom end but there was also a lot of positive rides from them.
“Peterborough was a nice one to come back to for Emil and everyone really, it is always nice place to go. It suits Emil and he was rapid, and it was great to see.”
Emil was indeed ‘rapid’ beaten only once by Peterborough’s Benjamin Basso, while Doyle was also beaten just once by the same rider.
Erik Riss and skipper Danny King both won two races each, while Keynan Rew popped up with a crucial come-from-behind win in heat 14, to lower Basso’s colours.
Hundreds of Witches fans made the short trip up the A1 to Peterborough and it is easy to see why so many people are excited at the team’s prospects this season.
There is a long way to go of course, but getting points on the board early, especially away from home, is always a big plus, especially after the disappointment of last Thursday’s opening night at Foxhall being rained off.
Attention now turns to the KO Cup, where the Witches will try and get past Leicester Lions in home and away clashes, starting tomorrow at Leicester and with the return at Foxhall next Thursday.
While the Premiership is the main priority this season for Hawkins’ side, a cup run is always nice in any sport and the Suffolk side will want to maintain the momentum after the win at Peterborough.
The Lions include Grand Prix ace, Max Fricke, and multi-British champion, Chris Harris, as well as the talented Nick Morris. They have a solid-looking line-up and Ipswich will want to keep the scores close, should they not win, for the return next Thursday at Foxhall.
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It maybe early in the season, but Witches riders have already enjoyed podium placings in individual events in Poland and the UK.
Sayfutdinov was second in the Piotr Protasiewicz Farewell meeting at Zielona Gora, Poland, while Danny King won the Ben Fund Bonanza at King’s Lynn, and Jason Doyle won the Sam Masters Testimonial meeting at Wolverhampton on Sunday.
A satisfactory week all round for Witches riders.
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There was a rather strange occurrence at Peterborough on Monday night during the Witches' visit.
In heat one, Panthers No.1 Nicki Pedersen came crashing down on the second turn after hitting a damp patch on the inside of the track alongside the white line which marks the inside of the track.
It was decided the white line should be marked out again a good three feet outside the original one. It made the shape of the track a tad different and will certainly not have been something many speedway fans have seen happen before.
It made little difference to the racing and it didn’t worry the Witches, and while Pedersen had to withdraw from the meeting, thankfully he was able to hobble back to the pits.
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It was a disappointment that last week’s opening night against Peterborough at Foxhall Heath was rained off.
The forecast all day wasn’t good and the club took an early decision to postpone the fixture. It proved the right decision with the rain arriving at 5pm.
Regular Foxhall fans will tell you it always rains on a Thursday! But that’s not quite the case, although it feels that way sometimes when the weather gods intervene.
The thing is, speedway is a dangerous enough sport as it is without asking riders to race on wet, greasy surfaces at high speeds, with no brakes and just an air fence to protect them.
So, here’s hoping for no more rainy Thursdays in a long hot summer as the Witches begin their pursuit of the KO Cup at Leicester.
Admission for fans on race night at Foxhall: Adults (17+) £22, concessions (65+) £20, children (16 and under) free, car parking is also free.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Thurs., March 30, Leicester (away), 7.30pm, KO Cup.
Thurs., April 6, LEICESTER (HOME), 7.30pm, KO Cup.
Thurs., April 13 BELLE VUE (HOME), 7.30pm, Premiership
