FOXES v IPSWICH, PREVIEW
NORTHAMPTON stage their penultimate home league fixture of the season when play-off chasing Ipswich visit the Shaleway on Thursday (7.30pm).
The Witches are in the thick of a battle for a top four finish, and it’s an important fixture for the Suffolk side as they bid to hold off their neighbours King’s Lynn.
But the Foxes are keen to complete their home campaign on a high, and in doing so collect a home victory over the Witches for the first time.
Ipswich were the first visitors to the Shaleway back on April 30 when they came away with a 49-41 win in the KO Cup, and they followed it up with a 46-44 success from a tense contest in the league at the end of June when a late Foxes comeback proved to be just in vain.
But since mid-July, Northampton have won two and drawn one of their last four home matches as they continue to settle into life at the top level of the sport.
A full-strength line-up is named for the meeting including Rider of the Year Kye Thomson at No.2, whilst Luke Harrison is back in the Rising Star berth after missing matches in August against Belle Vue and Leicester due to injury.
Ipswich’s riders have shown a liking for the Shaleway on both of their visits this season, although they are without the vastly experienced Scott Nicholls due to a broken collarbone, and they bring in Lewis Kerr to guest.
Foxes manager Chris Adams said: “There are two home meetings left for us this year in what has been a tough year for our newly developed club, but also one I’m sure most will agree what an exciting season we have had.
“We, and I’m sure all of you, can see the progress we have made and also how competitive we have been in the top flight of speedway in only our first year.
“Ipswich will be another tough meeting, as they all are, but I’m hoping now that if everything falls into place we can get another home victory over the line.”
Northampton will be holding their collection for the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund at the meeting, which was originally scheduled for last week. Supporters are asked to give as generously as possible to the cause.
In order that our programme content is as up to date as possible, we will be issuing the programmes which had already been printed for last week’s meeting, along with an insert to cover Thursday’s racecard and information on our visitors. There will then be a new programme for our season finale, and this ensures management and promotion columns are still relevant.
Foxes TV will also be covering the action as usual, with coverage available from https://www.northamptonfoxestv.com/ .
NORTHAMPTON: Niels-Kristian Iversen, Kye Thomson, Nicolai Klindt, Adam Ellis, Jaimon Lidsey, Mitch McDiarmid, Luke Harrison.
IPSWICH: Richard Lawson, Lewis Kerr, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Tobiasz Musielak, Kevin Juhl Pedersen, Jason Edwards.