FOXES 41 IPSWICH 49

NORTHAMPTON’S highly anticipated home debut didn’t quite have the fairytale ending – but there was still much to enthuse about as the new speedway club staged its first meeting in front of a huge crowd at the Shaleway.

The Foxes were beaten 49-41 by Ipswich, who completed a 100 per cent record overall in the Knockout Cup southern section underlining their deserved passage to the Final.

The Witches certainly had the star performer on the night in Polish ace Tobiasz Musielak, who took to the track immediately and racked up a 13-point score, whilst their experienced middle-order also scored well.

But Northampton could rue a moment of cruel misfortune for reserve Kye Thomson, without which the match would have gone down to a last-heat decider.

Thomson and guest Kyle Howarth were heading for a 5-1 in Heat 14 when on the last lap Thomson suffered a spark plug failure, and that allowed Scott Nicholls and Jason Edwards to take a match-clinching 3-3.

It was a night where the Foxes were searching for consistency on their home circuit, summed up by No.1 Jaimon Lidsey who ran two uncharacteristic last places in his opening two rides but hit back with two wins in the latter stages of the meeting.

Matej Zagar also showed up well after a tough first ride when Nicholls and Richard Lawson carded a 5-1 for the Witches, and there was also a highly promising display from youngster Luke Harrison in the Rising Star berth.

Harrison teamed up with Thomson for a 5-1 in Heat 2, the latter charging his way from fourth to second, and Harrison went on to score in every outing as the Foxes had supremacy in the reserve department.

After five races the scores were level at 15-15 as both sides recorded two 5-1s in that time, but the Witches made a big move across Heats 6 and 7 with a 4-2 then backed up by a 5-1 from Nicholls and Lawson over Thomson and Nicolai Klindt.

Zagar swept to the front of Heat 9 and a good scrap between Musielak and Howarth restricted Northampton to a 4-2 which cut the gap to four points.

Tom Brennan and the impressive Danny King raced to a 5-1 in Heat 11 to make it 37-29 to Ipswich, and Richard Lawson and Musielak maintained their advantage with wins in the next two races.

Thomson’s misfortune with half a lap to go in Heat 14 prevented the Foxes from setting up a big finish, but Lidsey finished on a high by defeating Musielak and Lawson in Heat 15 as Zagar pulled out with mechanical trouble.

Co-promoter Paul Hunsdon said: “Of course it was disappointing that we didn’t win on the night, or at least run it to the last heat, but we have to look at the big picture and I think everyone has gone home happy.

“The main positive was that everything ran smoothly, and we showed that we can deal with a big crowd, there was parking for everyone and there was still room for more.

“We delayed the start of racing by a few minutes which was the right thing to do, and I know that not a single person missed a race. The turnstiles coped with the demand, the food was plentiful, and we know the track will evolve – we already have some more ideas on that.

“We knew there would be things to learn from opening night, and we will certainly do so, but for our opening event we have to be pleased with how it went.”

Next up for the Foxes is a packed day of racing on Bank Holiday Monday as they visit Belle Vue at midday and Leicester at 7.30pm, both in ROWE Motor Oil Premiership league matches, whilst King’s Lynn are the visitors to the Shaleway next Thursday (May 7).

The club would also like to place on record our grateful thanks to everyone at the stadium for their help and assistance in getting this project over the line with what has been a massive effort this week – and thanks to the fans for turning out in such numbers on opening night.

PREMIERSHIP KO CUP (SOUTH)
NORTHAMPTON 41: Matej Zagar 8+1, Luke Harrison 7+2, Jaimon Lidsey 7+1, Kyle Howarth 7, Troy Batchelor 5, Kye Thomson 4+1, Nicolai Klindt 3+1.
IPSWICH 49: Tobiasz Musielak 13, Richard Lawson 10+3, Scott Nicholls 9+1, Danny King 9, Tom Brennan 5+2, Jason Edwards 2+1, Philip Hellstrom-Bangs 1.
Ipswich win the aggregate point

Photo credit: MIA DURKIN