FAST EMIL LEADS WITCHES’ CHARGE

EMIL Sayfutdinov smashed the Leicester track record as Ipswich progressed to the KO Cup semi-finals with a 47-43 away win.

Sayfutdinov took half a second off the previous mark set by Nick Morris in his first ride, and proceeded to score a 12-point maximum in his first appearance at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.

The Witches had domination of the race wins, taking the flag in all but four heats with Jason Doyle adding 12+2 and skipper Danny King 11, and Doyle also combined with youngster Keynan Rew for a 5-1 in Heat 15.

Richard Lawson top-scored for the Lions with 10+1, including two race wins, as they exited the competition by a ten-point aggregate margin. Ipswich will now face Peterborough in the last four.

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was definitely our best performance of the season. I am delighted with the boys and how they bounced back from the disappointment of last Thursday.

“To come here with six men and ride like that was terrific. I am delighted with all six of them.

“We spoke before the meeting and told the boys we have got three trophies to win this year, and we certainly don’t want to lose the opportunity to win one of them in April. The boys want to win and progress, and you could see their determination tonight from the word go, and as a team we stepped it up a level tonight.”

Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “First of all credit to Ipswich, they rode very well.

“Any signs that Emil Sayfutdinov would maybe take a couple of races to figure out the Leicester track were quickly blown away when he got the track record in Heat 4.

“We threw away a couple of points, but I think the better team went through to the next round.”

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: RICHARD BOETTCHER