PREVIEW: IPSWICH v BELLE VUE (Prem)

IPSWICH open the Foxhall season against Belle Vue tonight (Thursday) in a repeat of last-season’s dramatic play-off semi-final.

It was the Witches who prevailed on that occasion with their home lead proving just enough to defend in Manchester, and both sides have made two changes from 2023 for the new ROWE Motor Oil Premiership season.

Adam Ellis and Jordan Jenkins have come into the Ipswich team whilst the Aces hand debuts to Ben Cook and Connor Mountain.

Witches manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “Opening night is always tricky but as we have kept the majority of last year’s side who were doing so well at the end of last season and a couple of riders who have good experience at Foxhall, we will hope for a strong start on Thursday.

“There will be nerves for a few of them and everyone will need time to get back to race pace but we feel we are as well prepared as you can be.

“Belle Vue have probably been the best team over the last two years in the country and were certainly very good at Foxhall last season. We need to be sharp from the off and you couldn’t ask for a tougher test.”

Aces star Dan Bewley said: “I’m due a good meeting at Foxhall. It’s a track that I actually enjoy racing and I don’t feel that last year I demonstrated that particularly well.

“It’s our first league match, we’ve all had chance to race a few laps at home and we’re ready to get going with the league campaign.

“Ipswich won’t be easy. They’ve got some hard hitters in their team, but I think we are more than a match for them. We’ve just got to do our best and, hopefully, that’s enough to get us some points.”

IPSWICH: Emil Sayfutdinov, Adam Ellis, Danny King, Keynan Rew, Jason Doyle, Jordan Jenkins, Dan Thompson.
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Ben Cook, Dan Bewley, Connor Mountain, Connor Bailey.
SCB Referee: Paul Carrington