The Evening Star Ipswich Witches were beaten this evening by the Belle Vue Aces 48-42 at Kirkmanshulme Lane, Manchester.

Ipswich operated the rider replacement system at number 1 for the injured Piotr Swiderski and included Coventry’s Australian rider Rory Schlein as a guest in place of the injured Chris Louis. Following the release of the new averages Steve Johnston dropped down to reserve with Tobi Kroner moving back into the team at number 2. Belle Vue were at full strength apart from missing Lukasz Jankowski who was still absent with a collarbone injury and the Aces used the rider replacement system at number 2.
 
Former World Champion Jason Crump set a new track record in the opening heat but the home side had to settle for a drawn heat as Rory Schlein and Tobi Kroner kept Patrick Hougaard behind them. Nick Simmons was excluded from the Reserves’ race after bringing down Chris Schraam. In the rerun both Schraam and Steve Johnston passed Patrick Hougaard for a Witches’ 5-1. The Aces leveled the scores in the next race with a 5-1 of their own from Billy Forsberg and Charlie Gjedde over Jarek Hampel. Rory Schlein then passed Patrick Hougaard to win heat 4 and with Chris Schraam third ahead of Joe Screen this left the Witches leading 13-11.
 
Heat 5 was drawn with Charlie Gjedde taking the chequered flag ahead of Jarek Hampel and Tobi Kroner and in the next race Jason Crump defeated Rory Schlein and Steve Johnston for another shared heat. Joe Screen came good to win heat 7 beating Jarek Hampel and Robert Miskowiak for a third consecutive 3-3 but then Patrick Hougaard and Billy Forsberg teamed up for a 5-1 to Belle Vue to put them ahead for the first time in the meeting.

Heat 9 saw Rory Schlein hold off Charlie Gjedde and Billy Forsberg but in the next race Jason Crump scored his third win of the evening with Patrick Hougaard second to stretch the Aces lead to six points. The Witches hit back with a 5-1 of their own in the next race from Steve Johnston and Tobi Kroner over Nick Simmons after Joe Screen had suffered engine failure. The scores were tied after heat 12 when Jarek Hampel defeated Charlie Gjedde with Steve Johnston third.

Joe Screen and Jason Crump then took heat 13 from Rory Schlein and the Aces sealed victory in the next race with a 4-2 with Patrick Hougaard winning from Steve Johnston with Billy Forsberg third. The final race saw Jason Crump drop his only points of the evening to an opponent when Rory Schlein won the race from Charlie Gjedde with Crump third. This left the Aces victorious by six points.

For the Witches guest Rory Schlein top scored with fourteen whilst Steve Johnston managed 9+2.

Jason Crump was best for the Aces with 12+2 but he was very well supported by Charlie Gjedde with 11+1 and Patrick Hougaard with 11+1.

Belle Vue Aces:
Jason Crump 12+2, Lukasz Jankowski rider replacement, Charlie Gjedde 11+1, Billy Forsberg 7+2, Joe Screen 6, Nick Simmons 1, Patrick Hougaard 11+1.

Ipswich Witches:
Piotr Swiderski rider replacement, Tobi Kroner 4+3, Jarek Hampel 8, Rory Schlein 14, Robert Miskowiak 2+1, Steve Johnston 9+2, Chris Schraam 5.