RACE DAY PREVIEW: LEICESTER – ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2 (A)

By Henry Chard

All the details ahead of our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 game with Leicester.

WHEN WHERE

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ The Witches travel to Leicester to take on the Lions at Pidcock Motorcycles Arena on Thursday 18th^º July in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R2 match that starts at 7:30 p.m.

TEAMS

LEICESTER: 1. Max Fricke 8.31 © 2. Richard Lawson 6.53 3. Sam Masters 6.47 4. Luke Becker 5.93 5. Ryan Douglas 7.66 6. Craig Cook 4.88 7. Sam Hagon (RS) . Team Manager: Stewart Dickson

IPSWICH: 1. Scott Nicholls (G) 9.36 2. Dan Thompson 4.84 (RS) 3. Danny King 7.72 © 4. Adam Ellis 6.07 5. Emil Sayfutdinov 9.15 6. Keynan Rew 4.52 7. Jordan Jenkins 3.66. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

JUDGE: M. Wear

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE

TICKETS

Tickets are available for purchase online in advance. here and at the gate.

THE STORY

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ The Witches resume their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign on Thursday night in Leicester.

The league’s schedule was interrupted last week for the Speedway of Nations and on Monday the Witches’ home game against Belle Vue was postponed due to the forecast of bad weather, meaning a two-week break in racing.

Ipswich have Scott Nicholls back in the starting line-up in place of the injured Jason Doyle, but Dan Thompson is expected to have a chance to take his place in the side despite dislocating his shoulder less than a week ago at Speedway of Nations 2.

The Suffolk side have got the better of Leicester so far this season, with four wins from four games against the Lions, including two away victories, and will look to continue that run on Thursday.

FROM THE BOSS

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…

“We are very keen to get back together as a team after our short break. At the moment we are waiting for Dan to be fit again. Initial thoughts on the injury are that it is not too serious, and the dislocated shoulder has gone straight back in and he is not in too much discomfort. We are hopeful of a quick return; Thursday may be too early, but we will wait as long as we can before making a decision.

“We have had great success at Leicester over the last two years, some of it down to Dan’s superb performances. Losing him or not having a fully fit Dan is a blow, but the form the rest of the boys have been in will give us a chance anywhere. We go there with great confidence having won so many recent games there.

“Scott will continue as number one, when he is available he will be in the team, we have made no secret of that, and Leicester is a place I know he will do well. He will continue in the role until we can find a replacement for Jason, but that seems a long way off at the moment.”

THE LIONS

Leicester sit fifth in the table, just outside the play-off places, after what can only be described as an underwhelming season so far. The Lions have lost twice at home in the league and have only one win on their travels and, although the top four is still well within their reach, they cannot afford to slip up at home any further.

The hosts are at full strength for the contest and feature the same front five that started the season, but Stewart Dickson has changed both reserves, with Craig Cook and Sam Hagon replacing Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson.

DISTANT DAYS

An adult ticket costs £22, concessions £20, children (6-17) £1 and children aged 5 and under go free. There will be 235 free parking spaces available at the stadium, with further free parking facilities at the Beaumont Shopping Complex (maximum stay 4 hours). Three coach/minibus spaces, 15 disabled spaces available, 15 motorcycle spaces, taxi drop off point. For travel information, visit here.

For more information about the club, visit Leicester’s official website.