BRITISH SPEEDWAY MARCH 26, 2025

(SPEEDWAY 1)

WITCHES RACE TO IMPRESSIVE WIN

IPSWICH sent out a major warning to the rest of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership with a stunning 50-40 win at league champions Belle Vue in the first leg of their KO Cup tie.

The Witches put together a terrific all-round team display at the National Speedway Stadium, a venue where they have struggled in the past, and they are now strong favourites to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
All seven visitors scored between five and nine with Jason Doyle topping the list on 9+1, whilst Tom Brennan won two races on his debut – including one against home skipper Brady Kurtz – and reserve Dan Thompson was involved in key 5-1s in his final two outings.

Kurtz (12) and Dan Bewley (13+1) dominated the Aces’ scoring but the home side lost German racer Norick Blodorn after a heavy crash in Heat 8, although he was able to walk away.
Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “Everyone contributed to this result, it was good team performance, and every rider had a win or a paid win.

“We had very few last places, we’re a very solid side and everyone can go away happy with their own performances, as well as obviously the team, it was a great win.
“Dan was brilliant, especially as he had been feeling under the weather. His progress carries on an upward spiral. I know he scored great points, but he really showed his racing brain tonight, with some brilliant moves.

“I just think overall it’s so positive for everyone we’ve not shown any rustiness, and that goes down to the preparation that the boys put in through the winter.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It’s a two-legged tie so it’s not over yet. It’s a big ask to go down to Ipswich and turn that around. They are a quality team.
“It’s hard to take a loss at home on the back of having so much success at the club. It’s speedway, it’s sport, we’ve just got to bounce back.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

CHRIS Harris made a sensational debut for King’s Lynn with a paid-18 point maximum at reserve in the Stars’ 53-37 win over Oxford.
Harris was unbeaten from six rides as he racked up 17+1 with a series of trademark passing moves as Lynn took the advantage in the Premiership KO Cup tie.

Czech racer Jan Kvech won three races to score ten with the Stars hitting the Spires hard in the early stages of the meeting.
Maciej Janowski picked ten for the visitors, and Latvian youngster Francis Gusts impressed on his first appearance with 7+1.
King’s Lynn boss Rob Lyon said: “It was as good as it could get. Oxford are a decent side, and although we would have been majorly disappointed not to pull a win, I think 16 points is a healthy lead and its ours to lose now.

“Bomber was in tremendous form and I think that’s one of the best performances he’s had around King’s Lynn if I’m brutally honest. He was the match winner for us, he got us over the line and he was absolutely superb so hats off to him.
“This team is built on solid all-round performance, and we had one or two boys off tonight and we still won by 16. I think that shows how solid it is, and the potential we have is promising.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

LEICESTER raced to an emphatic 57-33 win at Birmingham to take full control of their Premiership KO Cup quarter-final tie.
Skipper Max Fricke scored a 13+2 for the Lions who were in ruthless form, the Australian completing his full house by passing fellow countryman Keynan Rew to win Heat 15.

Ryan Douglas impressed for the rampant visitors with 11 and last-minute signing Drew Kemp notched 9+2 at reserve including a stunning Heat 13 win after team-mate Sam Masters had been disqualified.
Rew impressed for the Brummies with nine points, but the home heat leaders were unable to get to grips with their opponents.
Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was a complete effort, everybody scored points, Max led from the front with his paid maximum, and we were solid throughout.

“I know they had a couple of chain issues, but for us even when Sam had a bike problem before Heat 13, Drew then popped out to beat riders of the class of Tobiasz Musielak and Matej Zagar, so it was our night.
“To be honest, if anything I can see Birmingham scoring more on Thursday than what they scored tonight. We were good, they struggled, so it was a combination of both, but from a Leicester point of view we were sharp and dominant.”

Brummies manager Chris Adams said: “It’s not how we wanted to start our season off whether it’s the Cup or not. We were well below par and second off the gates all night.
“Take nothing away from Leicester though, they were far better than us out the gates, and that’s just the way it went unfortunately for us.
“We’ve got seven new guys, none of them are used to racing here week in, week out and let’s be fair, Leicester are a good team, they’re solid and probably out of all the teams in the league, they’re probably going to be the best ones that come to Birmingham.”

(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY MARCH 27:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Ipswich (50) v Belle Vue (40) 7.30, Leicester (57) v Birmingham (33) 7.30, Oxford (37) v King’s Lynn (53) 7.30

MONDAY MARCH 31:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Birmingham v Leicester 7.30