PREVIEW: FOXES v IPSWICH
NORTHAMPTON Speedway stage their grand opening meeting on Thursday with Ipswich providing the opposition at the Shaleway (7.30pm).
The Foxes have already raced twice so far this season but both matches have been on the road whilst work continued to get their home venue ready for action.
Those tests were passed on Tuesday with positive reports on the track from all of the riders involved, and the next major landmark comes on Thursday with the first competitive meeting.
There has already been huge interest both from within the sport itself and from the local community, and with the weather set fair it’s all set for a massive occasion.
Team-wise, Northampton are keen to collect their first win in their first outing on their home track, but it will undoubtedly be a tough test against a very solid Ipswich team who have started the season well.
The Foxes will still be without Danish racer Niels-Kristian Iversen, who made his comeback from injury in Poland on Tuesday but is currently unable to fly to the UK as he awaits medical clearance from a punctured lung.
Iversen is set for a check-up on Thursday and should he receive the all-clear, he will make his first appearance for the Foxes on Bank Holiday Monday when the Foxes face away matches at both Belle Vue and Leicester.
For Thursday’s meeting, manager Chris Adams has booked Kyle Howarth to appear as a guest, and he will take Iversen’s No.4 position.
Ipswich track a full-strength line-up with No.1 Tom Brennan set to head to Germany after the meeting to represent Great Britain in their World Cup semi-final at Landshut.
There is a host of experience in the Witches’ middle-order and it will be fascinating to see how the likes of Danny King, Richard Lawson, Scott Nicholls and Polish star Tobiasz Musielak perform at the new circuit.
Foxes skipper Nicolai Klindt said: “Personally I feel the whole project is very exciting, and from my point of view it will be a success.
“The amount of work that has been put in behind the scenes is incredible, and what has been achieved over the last eight weeks is absolutely remarkable.
“It’s very early days for us as a team but the two away matches so far have been very encouraging, and I do hope and believe we will win on Thursday!”
NORTHAMPTON: Jaimon Lidsey, Troy Batchelor, Matej Zagar, Kyle Howarth, Nicolai Klindt, Kye Thomson, Luke Harrison.
IPSWICH: Tom Brennan, Danny King, Richard Lawson, Scott Nicholls, Tobiasz Musielak, Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, Jason Edwards.
Other key information:
There is ample free parking at the stadium. Marshals will assist anyone requiring Blue Badge parking.
Gates will open at 6pm. Tickets can be pre-purchased from https://northampton-speedway.com/tickets-hospitality , but cash and card turnstiles will also be in operation on the night. Programmes will also be available at the entrance point, priced at £4.
The parade will be at 7.30pm with the first race shortly afterwards.
Admission to the 750-seat grandstand is an extra £2; there is also plenty of grass banking from which to view the racing, and it is permitted to bring chairs into the stadium.
There is a designated viewing platform for disabled spectators and a carer. This is located near the grandstand, close to the stadium entrance.
Spectators are permitted to bring their own food and drink into the stadium but no glass bottles. Bar and catering facilities will be open. Please dispose of your rubbish in one of the many onsite litter bins.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead.
Thursday’s meeting will not be live streamed, but we will be using the event for a full systems test with a view to bringing in live streaming for our first home league match.