Ipswich Witches column: Bumper Bank Holiday crowd expected when the Witches face Norfolk rivals King’s Lynn Stars on Monday
Ipswich Witches and Norfolk rivals, King’s Lynn Stars, go head-to-head for the first time this season on Bank Holiday Monday at Foxhall Stadium.
The much-anticipated first clash of 2023 between the two teams is sure to attract a bumper Bank Holiday crowd and, if the excitement is half as good as the racing served up last Thursday when the Witches won a thriller against Sheffield Tigers, then it should be a cracking afternoon.
The Stars and the Witches have enjoyed many great scraps over the years, but Bank Holiday action between the two teams hasn’t been so forthcoming in recent seasons. Monday afternoon’s clash, therefore, with children 16 and under, going for free, is one that is already whetting the appetite.
In past years, Ipswich and King’s Lynn enjoyed ‘double-header’ Bank Holiday meets, when teams, management and fans would congregate at Lynn in the morning and then all head back through Thetford Forest for the afternoon return fixture at Foxhall – a mammoth day of speedway action.
And while it will just be at Foxhall this Monday, the two teams are set to meet three days later at the Norfolk Arena in the return clash.
“Racing against King’s Lynn is always special,” Witches team boss, Ritchie Hawkins said.
“Derby day rivalry is very keen. You want to beat your local rivals and be top dogs. That’s part of sport and in speedway it’s no different. We want to beat Lynn, make no bones about it. Our riders are fully aware of the importance of that.”
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Witches fans are still recovering from an extraordinary night of action last Thursday when unbeaten Sheffield Tigers saw that 100 per cent tag come to an end after a thrilling night’s action at Foxhall.
In a meeting that ebbed and flowed, former Witch and Ipswich-born Scott Nicholls (guesting for the Tigers) was in brilliant form for Sheffield. He lowered both of Ipswich’s top riders, Jason Doyle and Emil Sayfutdinov’s colours in a stunning heat 13 ride, keeping the scores at 38-40 to the visitors with two heats to go.
The meeting levelled up one race later, with Ipswich reserve (and later to be named rider of the meeting), Danyon Hume, racing to victory, before Nicholls, Doyle and Sayfutdinov all met again in a deciding heat 15.
Again, Nicholls got away, but this time Doyle chased and chased, before flying up the inside of the Tigers’ guest to pass him on lap two. Nicholls fell under the pressure from Doyle, while Sayfutdinov joined Doyle at the front for a match-winning 5-1 ride and a 47-43 win for the Witches, much to the joy of another good Foxhall crowd.
So, early days in the Premiership race, but Ipswich’s win over Sheffield will have given them a big boost, as they head into Monday’s clash with King’s Lynn.
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The first Grand Prix of the 2023 season takes place this Saturday night, in Croatia.
Over the season there will be 10 rounds and Ipswich are represented by their number one and Aussie, Jason Doyle, a former world champion in this format back in 2017. He will be hoping for a better GP season than he had in 2022.
Witches’ fans will certainly have their fingers crossed that Doyle can reproduce the GP form he showed back in 2017. And another world title? We’ll all have to wait and see.
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Ipswich Witches fans and management will be hoping German Erik Riss will be back riding for the team soon.
The amiable Riss has been suffering with a viral infection that has knocked him badly. He has only ridden twice for the Witches so far this season and has missed recent fixtures to get himself on the mend.
He did return to the track riding for Germany in the European Team final at the weekend, but failed to score. He posted this afterwards on his Facebook page.
“A disappointing day for me. After two and a half weeks off from riding due to illness, and feeling a little bit better, I had hoped that it wouldn’t affect me too much on the bike anymore.
“Unfortunately, ahead of and during the meeting, I suffered with similar feelings of brain fog as to what I had in my last meeting. I struggled to concentrate, missed every start and struggled to read my bike.
“I didn’t feel myself on the bike. I failed to score. I should not have ridden until I felt right but I was trying to force it as I really wanted to be part of such a prestigious meeting for Germany.
“I hope to feel back to my usual self soon and be performing the way I know I can.”
Ipswich fans will certainly hope Riss is feeling 100 per cent again soon. He is a popular and key member of the Witches team.
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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
Mon., May 1 KING’S LYNN (HOME) 2.30pm, Premiership
Thurs., May 4 King’s Lynn (Away), 7.30pm, Premiership
Mon., May 8 Peterborough (Away, 7.30pm, KO Cup
Thurs., May 11 PETERBOROUGH (HOME), 7.30pm, KO Cup
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PREMIERSHIP TABLE
(top 4 into play-offs)
Team P Pts
Belle Vue 6 9
Sheffield 3 5
Ipswich 3 4
Wolves 2 3
Leicester 2 3
King’s Lynn 2 2
Peterborough 4 0
