Ipswich Witches without Jason Doyle ahead of crucial Premiership play-off clash against Belle Vue
Doyle is out after a crash at the Danish Grand Prix on Saturday
Ipswich Witches face a tough test tonight and will have to do without star man Jason Doyle, as they welcome reigning champions Belle Vue in the Premiership play offs.
The first leg earlier this week was postponed due to bad weather, leaving Witches an opportunity to build up a lead at home to take to the National Speedway Stadium.
Doyle is out as he recovers from a crash in the Danish Grand Prix on Saturday. Witches are also still without Rising Star Dan Thompson.
Speaking to the Witches website, team manager Ritchie Hawkins said:
“We head into play-offs without Jason Doyle and obviously he will be a big miss to us as he has been the rock of our side for the last two years and has been absolutely instrumental in making the play-offs over the last two seasons and winning the Knockout Cup."
"Unfortunately, he is still feeling pretty second hand after his massive crash last weekend and needs time to recover.
"Chris Harris will guest, and he will really enjoy track conditions if they are like they were last week.
"He always enjoys a guest booking and we will enjoy having him in the side.
“Now we host the first leg, and the emphasis is on trying to build up as big a lead as possible.
"We need another performance like we have had recently but we are racing against the reigning champions and a side that have got the better of us this year, and everyone else. It is a massive ask but if we can all pull together and perform like I know we can then we can get a lead to take to Manchester next week.
“We are in a great run of form, and we will have another great crowd like we did last week and that makes a big difference.
"If we can carry on that buzz because we all want to progress to the final again and we know that winning feeling and we want more of it.
"Everybody is fully focused on the job in hand, and we need to carry on what we have been today because of later we have been a very good side.”
Wolverhampton are up against Sheffield in the other play-off fixtures.
TONIGHT'S TEAMS:
IPSWICH: 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 10.14 2. Danyon Hume 4.00 3. Danny King 7.03 © 4. Erik Riss 5.03 5. Chris Harris (G) 9.21 6. Keynan Rew 4.00 7. Jack Smith (G) (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
BELLE VUE: 1. Brady Kurtz 8.33 © 2. R/R for Charles Wright 6.55 3. Jaimon Lidsey 7.82 4. Tom Brennan 6.16 5. Dan Bewley 8.00 6. Norick Blödorn 5.80 7. Connor Bailey (RS) 8. Freddy Hodder. Team Manager: Mark Lemon