PREMIERSHIP: Schroeck targets home win as World Champions head for OX4

Oxford Spires team manager Peter Schroeck plans to maintain the club’s 100 per cent win record when Ipswich Witches visit OX4 in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Thursday.

Spires are unbeaten from their opening three league fixtures and top the table with seven points secured out of a possible seven following two victories on home shale and a win on the road at Birmingham.

Ipswich will arrive at Sandy Lane brimming with confidence too having won both of their opening meetings in eye-catching style against Belle Vue and Birmingham respectively.

Ritchie Hawkins’ side will be led by three times Speedway of Nations champion Emil Sayfutdinov with 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle supporting in the middle order. Previous British champions Danny King and Adam Ellis will be in the away corner too.

Schroeck expects another tough challenge against last season’s runners up, but has backed his side to keep their winning run going.

“Ipswich have built a really strong team over the winter, and it would be a surprise not to see them towards the top of the division as the season progresses,” said Schroeck. “They’ve had two confidence boosting wins at home so we’ll need to be on our a-game.

“For the neutrals and even our supporters it will be a great spectacle to see the likes of Emil (Sayfutdinov) and Jason (Doyle) on track and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s good to have Maciej back in the squad after his Polish commitments last week. The boys covered his rides really well which ultimately got us a big win on the road but being back at full strength is an advantage.

“Week by week everyone is adapting well to the track so we’re entering full of confidence and targeting another two big points.”

Before the fixture, Oxford Speedway would like to send our thoughts to family, friends and those who knew John ‘Tiger’ Louis, who passed away aged 82. John will forever be a legend of Ipswich Speedway and everyone at Oxford was saddened to learn of his passing.

Tickets for Oxford Spires’ ROWE Motor Oil Premiership fixture against Ipswich Witches on Thursday, April 11, are on sale now and available to purchase by clicking here. Tapes-up is at 7.30pm and ALL U16s go free.

Oxford Spires: Maciej Janowski, Charles Wright, Nicolai Klindt, Rohan Tungate, Chris Harris, Lewi Kerr, Ashton Boughen.

Ipswich Witches: Emil Sayfutdinov, Jordan Jenkins, Danny King, Adam Ellis, Jason Doyle, Keynan Rew, Dan Thompson.