Speedway: Ipswich Witches end Leicester's run of straight victories
They're closing in on the top four
Last updated 1st Aug 2023
The Ipswich Witches raced to victory away at Leicester last night in the Premiership.
Leicester went into the fixture having raced to eight straight victories, but the Suffolk side started well and built a six-point lead after six races.
The Witches kept Leicester at arm’s length before stepping it up a gear in the latter stages as they hit three maximums in the final four races.
Jason Doyle top scored with a 14+1 paid maximum.
Team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s win at Leicester: “It was a brilliant performance and a great result. Leicester have been in great form, but we turned up there and the majority of the team rode to their capabilities which hasn’t happened too often this season.
“I think we have a couple of riders who have come into better form, Danny has got going again which really helps support the top two.
"Dan Thompson put in an outstanding performance tonight and he has got better every meeting. You can see his confidence has grown so much since the British Under-21 Final and having your number seven score paid 13 from five rides makes you a strong team.
“Doyley was terrific as well as Emil again tonight, I thought Doyley looked really quick and it was great to see him back on it. He has had maybe a couple of tough nights by his high standards, but he is never that far off really. He has been at the top for so long and it is a joy to watch them ride when they are riding like that.
“The win was the main thing, away from home we need to win the meetings. The aggregate bonus point doesn’t really matter, if we won by two or 16 because we have to win the home meetings.
"It doesn’t make a great deal of difference, but it was good to put in such a commanding victory. One thing that was a massive difference was that after the interval we kicked on and were superb whereas previously we have always dropped away at that point so that was a massive difference."
Ipswich pick up two points and close the gap on the top four, also building a 16-point lead ahead of the return fixture at Foxhall later next month with the aggregate bonus point up for grabs.
Leicester drop to third in the league.
The Witches travel to King’s Lynn to face the Stars at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday 3rd August.