REPORT: Brave comeback by battling Oxford Spires just falls short

BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires showed plenty of fighting spirit, but eventually just missed out in their televised clash with the Ipswich Witches in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Monday), with Witches moving back to the top of the table with a 46-44 victory.

Spires were left ruing a moment of misfortune in Heat 1, as Rohan Tungate shed a chain with a lap remaining, not only losing second place, but also accidentally impeding team-mate Maciej Janowski and putting an end to Janowski’s chase of Danny King, as Ipswich commenced the night with a 5-1.

Ipswich quickly moved into a 17-7 lead after four races, and Witches still held a ten-point lead after Heat 6.

Spires’ comeback commenced in Heat 7, after Peter Kildemand and guest Richard Lawson moved either side of Adam Ellis in the early stages to bring back a 5-1.

Back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 10 and 11 brought Spires level and suddenly it was game on. In the former race, Ipswich’s Tom Brennan passed Tungate and closed in on Janowski. Brennan threw his bike inside the Pole on the third bend of the final lap, but his momentum took him wide and he crashed, leaving Janowski and Tungate with maximum points.

In Heat 11, Jason Doyle trapped, but received a rude awakening when he was pushed wide on the second bend. Kildemand then overtook lively Ipswich reserve Dan Thompson after a lap to join Lawson for another 5-1, while 2017 World Champion Doyle lost his unbeaten status with a last place.

Witches moved back ahead with a 5-1 in Heat 12. Lawson bustled through on the second bend in Heat 13 and briefly held a 5-1 with Janowski, before Doyle regained second and then Emil Sayfutdinov ruthlessly dived inside Lawson on the fourth turn. Janowski held on to win a shared race, and handed Russian Rocket Sayfutdinov his first defeat of the evening.

Charles Wright pushed into third place early on in Heat 14, as he and Kildemand packed the minor placings behind Brennan to make sure the meeting went to the final race.

Spires needed a 5-1 from Heat 15 to force a Super Heat. Janowski was leading, when a reckless divebomb by third-placed Jason Doyle on the opening bend of the second lap took the Australian into team-mate Sayfutdinov and then into Janowski. With fourth-placed Tungate also laying his bike down, it was carnage, with all four riders on the deck.

Fortunately, all the participants were soon back on their feet, while Doyle was rightfully excluded from the re-run. Janowski again trapped, and despite his attempts to slow down Sayfutdinov, the Russian kept hold of second place ahead of Tungate. Spires took a 4-2, while Ipswich won the meeting by a couple of points.

Skipper Janowski top-scored for Spires with 11+1, including defeating Sayfutdinov in both Heats 13 and 15. Reserve Kildemand scored 10+1, after being unbeaten in his opening three outings.

For Ipswich, Sayfutdinov showed all his class with 12+1. But arguably the match-winner was reserve Thompson (7+2), who was involved in 5-1s in both Heats 9 and 12.

Spires’ team manager Peter Schroeck said: “When you lose by just a couple of points, it’s tough, because you reflect on how close you were to winning, but the boys dug deep and we pushed Ipswich all the way.

“Witches knew they were in a battle as well. Afterwards, their manager Ritchie Hawkins said to me: ‘wow Pete, you gave us a hell of a match.’

“That was a reckless move by Jason Doyle in the last race when he came in so hard underneath the other riders. The meeting looked settled at that point and there was no need for it. A rider of his quality will know he shouldn’t be making moves like that. He’s only recently returned from injury, and it was fortunate everyone got up on this occasion.

“We’ve shown we can compete with anyone around here, while Maciej (Janowski) was on it and he beat Emil Sayfutdinov twice in the closing stages. I’m hoping everyone went home entertained tonight and wants to come back to see some more.”

The next action at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies host Berwick Bandits in the Cab Direct Championship on Wednesday (July 9) at 7.30pm.

Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

BetGoodwin Oxford Spires 44: Maciej Janowski 11+1, Rohan Tungate 8+1, Kyle Howarth 4, Charles Wright 3+2, Richard Lawson 7+1, Peter Kildemand 10+1, Luke Killeen 1.

Ipswich Witches 46: Jason Doyle 8, Danny King 2+1, Adam Ellis 6+2, Tom Brennan 6, Emil Sayfutdinov 12+1, Dan Thompson 7+2, Jason Edwards 5.

PHOTO: Maciej Janowski ahead of Emil Sayfutdinov (pic: Steve Edwards)