IPSWICH’S win over King’s Lynn in a Super Heat came with the potential cost of losing Jason Doyle after a horrific crash.
The Witches took victory after the meeting ended 45-45 and was taken into a Super Heat with Witches, Adam Ellis and Emil Sayfutdinov, securing a 6-3 to steal the win.
Doyle was withdrawn from the meeting after a Heat 4 crash, being taken to hospital over concerns of an arm injury.
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I am delighted to beat King’s Lynn but for me I should have been absolutely buzzing coming away from that meeting, but our thoughts were with Jason really.
“We eagerly await news on him, and I am very proud of the boys managing to turn it around and get that win for him.
“Everything else is irrelevant but we are showing great character and what a great side to be involved in.”
Doyle missing could cause issue for the Witches and clearly this will also be a worry for his World Championship campaign with the next meeting being in Prague on 1 June.
The Stars looked set to win when they led by 14 points with a 31-17 in Heat 8, but the Witches brought a fight, with Sayfutdinov racing to a 17+1 paid maximum.
Ipswich guest Tom Brennan was an excellent choice, scoring 13 points, and Adam Ellis scored a good 9+1.
The Stars top scorer, Nicolai Klindt picked up 14+1 in the regular meeting.
Klindt said: “It’s very disappointing. I wouldn’t say that we had it in the bag because as everyone knows, Ipswich are so strong from one to seven, even without Jason Doyle and we wish him all the very best.
“They are a very strong outfit, and they had a very good guest in Tom Brennan coming in, who did very well for Birmingham in our last home meeting.
“We knew we had everything on the line in the last few heats, and I think where we lost it was when Benjamin Basso crashed. That was a very important point.”
King’s Lynn Stars will hope for a comeback in their next Premiership fixture away against Leicester Lions on Thursday 13th June.
Ipswich Witches will next race, with an aim to continue the wins, away against Birmingham Brummies on Monday.
Words by Freya Taylor.
Images by Taylor Lanning.