The Evening Star Ipswich Witches will be aiming to complete a sensational seven days in style in the Sky Sports Elite League when they welcome the Belle Vue Aces to Foxhall Stadium on Thurday 22nd May.
With away wins at Eastbourne and Wolverhampton already on the board, and a home victory over the Eagles last time out, the Witches have ridden their way into contention for the Elite League Playoffs and will be eager to continue racking up the points against a side in the lower reaches of the table.
With the team all rallying round in the absence of captain Chris Louis, extra credit must be given to Ipswich’s trio of Poles, who have provided real strength in depth. Between them, Piotr Swiderski, Robert Miskowiak and Jarek Hampel have scored 87 of the 148 points the Witches have recorded in their three victories since last Thursday. Credit is also due to Fredrik Lindgren and Edward Kennett for their performances in Witches colours as guests at Eastbourne and Wolverhampton respectively. While a tough away fixture at Poole awaits on Wednesday evening, there is no doubt that this week’s efforts have raised both the spirits and expectations in the Witches camp. The team spirit fostered in recent weeks by stand in Captain Steve Johnston and team manager Pete Simmons was on full display to the speedway world in Monday evening’s televised victory in the Midlands, and there is no doubt that the Witches enter this week’s remaining fixtures in a buoyant mood, with an eye on upsetting the Pirates on Wednesday and then capitalising on the opportunity to take the points against Belle Vue on Thursday.
Belle Vue will certainly be out to prove that they not also rans this season. Despite languishing in the lower reaches of the table, they still boast a side containing former double World Champion Jason Crump amongst others. The Australian superstar switched back to the Aces in the winter after spending a season at Poole in 2007. Currently sitting 7th in the World Championship, he was dramatically excluded from the semi-final of the European Grand Prix for taking down Nicki Pedersen. Despite this, only Leigh Adams has a better Elite League average so far this season. Crump is always a threat when he visits Foxhall. Last season in Poole’s colours he was only beaten twice in ten heats, with Robert Miskowiak preventing him from taking a maximum in both Elite League fixtures. Crump lines up at number 1.
Charlie Gjedde rides at number 3 in the side, and he moved to the Aces from Swindon in the winter. The Danish international has also been in tremendous form so far this season, already boasting an average over 8 points in all meetings. Completing the main body of the Belle Vue team is veteran star Joe Screen, who lines up at number 5. Screen was World Under-21 Champion back in 1993, and has since flourished within British Speedway, winning league honours with Belle Vue, Bradford and Eastbourne. Regarded as one of Belle Vue’s greatest riders of recent times, Screen will captain the side again in 2008 despite the return of Jason Crump.
While the main body of the Aces side looks strong, the remaining members of the side have given their management the most headaches this season, and arguably held them back from greater success. Billy Forsberg, Lukas Jankowski and former Witch Steve Boxhall are all injured, while Michal Rajkowski has underperformed and has consequently been released. Into the team has come young Dane Joonas Raun at reserve. Raun rode for Peterborough in 2006 and then Newcastle in 2007, but suffered an injury last September and has only recently returned to racing. He will be partnered at reserve by squad member Robert Ksiezak, a young Australian who rides for Glasgow in the Premier League as well as doubling up with the Aces squad. The Aces are likely to use rider replacement for the absent Jankwoski, and will bring in a guest for Billy Forsberg. They have an average of 5.30 available for the guest facility, but have yet to name a rider to fill this role.
Belle Vue met the Witches next opponents Poole on Monday evening and managed to pull off a credible 48-42 victory. They have already lost at home to Eastbourne and Swindon this season, but managed an away draw at Coventry. With the Witches now able to reflect on the six points made up in away victories so far this week, they will realise that it is hugely important not to slip up against the Aces on Thursday evening. While the formbook is firmly in favour of a home victory, everyone is aware that this seasons Elite League is far from predictable, as results have shown so far. In this respect, all Witches supporters will need to get behind their team to show their support and spur the team on, keeping this week’s tremendous momentum going on the track as the season gets into full swing. The Witches have everything to ride for on Thursday, and it should be a massively entertaining fixture.
