The Evening Star Ipswich Witches were defeated on Friday evening at the Arena Essex Raceway by the Lakeside Hammers 51-42.

Ipswich were without skipper Chris Louis following the shoulder injury he sustained against Eastbourne last week. The Eastbourne rider Edward Kennett rode as a guest at number 1. The popular Australian Steve Johnston took over the captain’s role. Lakeside tracked their usual seven riders but following the new averages the former Witches rider Joonas Kylmakorpi dropped into the reserve position with Lubos Tomicek moving up into the team proper.

The track was still rather wet following a heavy rain shower in the afternoon and Andreas Jonsson came from behind in heat 1 to pass Steve Johnston on the second lap. With Edward Kennett passing Leigh Lanham on the last lap the heat was shared. It was a similar scoreline in the reserves race with Tobi Kroner coming home in front from the two Lakeside riders. The Hammers went ahead in the next race with a 5-1 from Adam Shields and Lubos Tomicek. Robert Miskowiak started well but slipped back through the field before falling. The home side doubled their lead in heat 4 with a 5-1 from Jonas Davidsson and Joonas Kylmakorpi over Jarek Hampel. The Hammers therefore led 16-8 after four races.

The next race was shared with Edward Kennett and Steve Johnston keeping Lubos Tomicek at the back although they could not catch Adam Shields in front. Lakeside extended their lead to twelve points in heat 6 with a 5-1 from Andreas Jonsson and Leigh Lanham over Jarek Hampel. The Witches gained their first heat advantage in heat 7 after Piotr Swiderski passed Jonas Davidsson with Robert Miskowiak third. Ipswich Team Manager Pete Simmons then sent out captain Steve Johnston for a tactical ride and the Australian duly responded with a victory. Although Tobi Kroner finished at the back the Witches nevertheless pulled back three further points to trail 29-22 after eight heats.

The Hammers’ lead was extended in the next race when Adam Shields and Lubos Tomicek gained a further 5-1 after Jarek Hampel lost power. Worse was to follow for the Witches with a further 5-1 to the Hammers in heat 10 courtesy of Andreas Jonsson and Leigh Lanham. The Witches then gained their first 5-1 of the evening through Steve Johnston and Edward Kennett only for Lakeside to reverse the situation in the next race when Adam Shields and Joonas Kylmakorpi comfortably defeated Tobi Kroner. The Hammers now led 45-30 with three heats remaining.

The Witches had been looking to finish stronger in meetings and so it proved this evening. Heat 13 was drawn with Andreas Jonsson winning but Jarek Hampel and Edward Kennett filled the minor placings. The penultimate race saw Piotr Swiderski finish first from Lubos Tomicek with Tobi Kroner third. Andreas Jonsson’s hopes of a maximum were dashed in the final race when he could only finish third behind the Witches’ pairing of Piotr Swiderski and Steve Johnston but this left Hammers running out comfortable winners 51-42.

For the Witches stand-in captain Steve Johnston did an outstanding job scoring fourteen plus two bonus points whilst Piotr Swiderski was equally strong with eleven. For the Hammers Andreas Jonsson scored 13 and Adam Shields 12.

Ipswich Team Manager Pete Simmons said “Steve Johnston set a superb example as captain and Piotr Swiderski continues to show outstanding form. Unfortunately this evening too many of the other riders were just not at the races. We finished on a high note but realistically it was a case of too little too late.”
 
Ipswich now look forward to hosting Peterborough on Monday afternoon (start 3.30pm) in their next Elite League fixture.

Lakeside Hammers:
Andreas Jonsson 13, Leigh Lanham 6+2, Adam Shields 12, Lubos Tomicek 6+2, Jonas Davidsson 6, Ricky Kling 2, Joonas Kylmakorpi 6+4.  

Ipswich Witches:
Edward Kennett (guest) 6+3, Steve Johnston 14+2, Robert Miskowiak 1, Piotr Swiderski 11, Jarek Hampel 4, Tobias Kroner 5, Chris Schramm 1.