PREVIEW: NORTHAMPTON v IPSWICH (PREM KOC)
NORTHAMPTON stage their eagerly awaited first home fixture when they host Ipswich in KO Cup action tonight (Thursday).
The sport’s newest club received clearance to run following a track inspection on Tuesday and interest is high for the official opening of the Foxes, who have given solid displays in their two away matches so far.
They remain without Niels-Kristian Iversen who is awaiting medical clearance to fly following a punctured lung, and Kyle Howarth comes in to guest.
The Witches are at full strength as they look to complete a clean sweep of positive results in the southern section of the competition, as well as gaining experience at Northampton International Shaleway.
Foxes skipper Nicolai Klindt said: “Personally I feel the whole project is very exciting, and from my point of view it will be a success.
“The amount of work that has been put in behind the scenes is incredible, and what has been achieved over the last eight weeks is absolutely remarkable.
“It’s very early days for us as a team but the two away matches so far have been very encouraging, and I do hope and believe we will win on Thursday!”
Witches boss Paul Hurry said: “We still have a reputation to keep. We are the Ipswich Witches. We have to keep that flag flying high. We won’t go there just to be walked over. We will go there to win, like we always do, and do the best job we can.
“They will have their press and practice on the day. By the time we get there, they will have done a day’s practising and will have some idea of how the track is going to ride.
“For those riders in Heat 1, which will be Tom Brennan and Danny King for us, it’s going to be a learning curve. It will take a bit of getting used to, and the set-ups are going to be different.”
NORTHAMPTON: Jaimon Lidsey, Troy Batchelor, Matej Zagar, Kyle Howarth, Nicolai Klindt, Kye Thomson, Luke Harrison.
IPSWICH: Tom Brennan, Danny King, Richard Lawson, Scott Nicholls, Tobiasz Musielak, Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, Jason Edwards.
SCB Referee: Mick Bates
