The Evening Star Ipswich Witches now face a very tough task to finish in third spot in the Sky Sports Elite League after they were defeated this evening by the Peterborough Panthers 52-40 at the East of England Showground.

Ipswich were still without the young German rider Tobi Kroner who has a broken finger. In his absence they used the Rider Replacement System at number 2. The Witches were further depleted by the absence of Robert Miskowiak who was suffering from an ear infection. Carl Wilkinson, who last week signed up as the Witches number 8 for the remainder of the season, took Miskowiak’s place at number 4.
 
Peterborough fielded their full side with the young Pole Karol Zabik, who last week was reported to have parted company with the club, taking his place in the team after settling his differences.

On an overcast night in the opening race Ryan Sullivan took the chequered flag from Piotr Swiderski with Lukas Dryml third to give the Panthers a 4-2 heat advantage. In the reserves race Claus Vissing led from the start from Chris Schraam and Steve Johnston for a shared heat. Carl Wilkinson led heat 3 only to fall after being passed by Kenneth Bjerre and Henning Bager as the Panthers stretched their lead to six points. The fourth race saw Rory Schlein first home from Daniel King and Claus Vissing so that the score after four heats was 15-9 to Peterborough.

In heat 5 Piotr Swiderski suffered an engine failure but by that time the Panthers’ pairing of Kenneth Bjerre and Henning Bager were long gone on their way to their second 5-1 of the evening. The Witches replied with a 5-1 of their own in heat 6 courtesy of a win by Chris Schraam and Rory Schlein from Ryan Sullivan. Karol Zabik took the next race from Jarek Hampel with Danny King third and then in heat 8 Lukas Dryml just held off the battling Rory Schlein with Claus Vissing third. The 4-2 advantage to the home side left them 29-19 ahead after eight heats.

With the Witches ten points behind team manager Pete Simmons sent Rory Schlein out for a tactical ride in heat 9 but Kenneth Bjerre was too strong and with Steve Johnston third the Witches could only gain a 5-3 heat advantage. Ryan Sullivan won the next race from Jarek Hampel with Lukas Dryml third after Chris Schraam had fallen. Steve Johnston and Karol Zabik then had a great battle before the Peterborough man fell leaving Danny King second and Piotr Swiderski third for a Witches’ 4-2. Jarek Hampel then led heat 12 before Kenneth Bjerre went past him on the third lap and with Claus Vissing third the home side led 42-32 with three heats remaining.

Rory Schlein suffered an engine failure whilst second and with Danny King defeating Piotr Swiderski the Panthers gained another 4-2 in heat 13 to ensure the victory. Chris Schraam won heat 14 with the Panthers filling the minor placings and the final race was also drawn when Kenneth Bjerre completed a fine paid maximum ahead of Jarek Hampel and Rory Schlein. This meant that the Panthers finished victorious by twelve points.

For the Witches, Rory Schlein led the way with 12+2 supported by Jarek Hampel with 9 and Chris Schraam with 8.

Kenneth Bjerre’s paid maximum was supported for the Panthers by Ryan Sullivan and Danny King both with 8.

The defeat means that the Witches will need two victories on Thursday night in the double header at Foxhall against Coventry and Poole. In addition the combined margin of the victories must be at least 35 points if the Witches are to finish third in the Elite League table.

Peterborough Panthers:
Ryan Sullivan 8, Lukas Dryml 5, Kenneth Bjerre 14+1, Henning Bager 6+2, Danny King 8, Karol Zabik 5, Claus Vissing 6+1.

Ipswich Witches:
Piotr Swiderski 5, Tobi Kroner Rider Replacement, Jarek Hampel 9, Carl Wilkinson 0, Rory Schlein 12+2, Steve Johnston 6+2, Chris Schraam 8.