This Thursday September 4th the Evening Star Ipswich Witches take on the Coventry Bees at Foxhall Stadium in an Elite League B meeting sponsored by Keith Martin.
Despite Coventry being the reigning League Champions, 2008 has seen the Brandon based outfit drop down the League table after making some enforced changes in the winter. Despite a 52-37 victory in their first meeting with the Witches at Brandon back in early April, the Bees have been unable to beat the Witches since. Ipswich cruised to a comfortable 50-43 victory at Foxhall in July, and added to their excellent away points tally this season after a thrilling 45-45 draw at Brandon on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Ipswich go into the meeting as strong favourites, looking to continue to make up ground on Swindon to push for the third place spot in the league. The Witches still have four matches in hand over the Robins with a deficit of five points to make up. A victory over the Bees would earn two more valuable points towards their goal.
While the Witches have one eye on the playoffs, they will need to make sure they pay all due respect to a Coventry side that still retains a number of quality riders who led them to the title last year. Scott Nicholls and Steve Johnston may have moved on, but the Bees still have the likes of British GP star Chris Harris, Olly Allen and Billy Janniro. While Rory Schlein may have recently joined Ipswich, he will be lining up against another former Witch in Hans Anderson. Anderson moved to Coventry after leaving Peterborough last month, and has been showing the qualities that he regularly displays in International and Grand Prix meetings. He currently has the fourth best average in the Elite League, and recently celebrated his move by winning the Elite League Pairs Competition with Chris Harris. Anderson has represented Peterborough at Foxhall three times already this season and has had mixed fortunes. He scored 14 in the Craven Shield back in March, but only 8+1 in the League in May. His last visit in June saw him score 8 again. He lines up at number 1 and will be a threat as always on Thursday.
British international Simon Stead is unavailable for the meeting after breaking his collarbone recently and so the Bees will use rider replacement at number 2. Chris Harris will ride at number 3 and was equal top scorer on the night with Rory Schlein when the Bees were last at Foxhall in July. Harris managed 14+1 that evening, but will be riding against Schlein this time around, and the Foxhall faithful will be keen to see Schlein demonstrate his liking for the Foxhall circuit in home colours.
Tough American Billy Janniro rides at number 4 and will be making his first Foxhall appearance of the season after missing the match in July through injury. Norwich born Olly Allen has stepped into the heat leader berth at number 5 after the departure of Schlein and the injury to Stead. He recorded a credible 7+2 back in July while riding at number 2, but will face a much sterner test on Thursday. At reserve the Bees have made changes. Stanislaw Burza and Andreas Messing have been released after failing to impress so far this season, and are replaced by Czech international Filip Sitera and former German Under-21 champion Robbie Kessler. Kessler began the season as the Witches number 8, but dropped out of British speedway after a disappointing spell at Mildenhall. While the Witches replaced Kessler with young Dane Jan Graversen, the Bees decided to make the most of his experience and drafted him in at reserve. He goes at number 7, with Sitera at 6.
The Witches know that another home win is a must, and that the possibility of catching Swindon is a real possibility. Despite this, they are very aware that the Bees have quality riders who can cause an upset on their day. The Witches should have enough strength in depth to overcome the Bees second order, but will have to go out on the track and prove that they are a playoff side on Thursday night. With the fans behind them, hopefully they should get the right result.
