Speedway: Ipswich top of the Premiership after victory over Oxford
They have maintained their 100% winning start in 2024
Ipswich are top of the table, thanks to a 45-39 victory over Oxford.
The Ipswich Witches are top of the table, and have maintained their 100% winning start in 2024 with a 45-39 victory against the Oxford Spires at Foxhall Stadium.
Ipswich came into the fixture at full strength but there were a host of changes for the Spires.
Firstly, Erik Riss was in at reserve for his first meeting as a Spire since he was brought in to replace Nicolai Klindt.
This move pushed Lewis Kerr up to number two but he broke his ankle in a crash against the Witches last week so Scott Nicholls guested in his place and top-scored with 12.
Rohan Tungate missed his flight from Poland and was due to be replaced by Jacob Clouting but he also failed to arrive on time resulting in Oxford having a non-starter at four.
"A perfect start to the season"
Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins was pleased with the win: “Really tough night for us with the conditions and against a very strong Oxford side but I’m very proud of the boys for how they battled and coped with everything.
"There was no complaining about the conditions, it was head down and we did what we needed to do. Oxford were very good, certainly missing Rohan Tungate weakened them but we needed to take advantage and we did.
“It was a beautiful day but we felt the weather may turn. When we got here we were looking at different forecasts and we thought the rain was coming from 9 but it a bit came earlier. It’s a bit of a leveller when it rains but we coped with it well and when we got into the better gates one and three we took advantage of that.
“I think it shows a lot of the mental strength that this team has already and the confidence it has coming from last season and into this year with a great start to the season. I’m very happy with the boys!
“It’s been a perfect start to the season, I’m absolutely delighted. It’s gone as well as I could ever hoped, all going to plan so far. We just need to concentrate on keeping it up for the next six months.”
Ipswich travel to the National Speedway Stadium on Monday 22nd April to face the Belle Vue Aces.