Ipswich team manager Paul Hurry hailed No.1 Tom Brennan’s injury fightback as the Tru7 Group Witches launch their Rowe Motor Oil Premiership title defence away to Belle Vue on Monday night.
Brennan played a key role in Witches lifting their first league title since 1998 last season, but the double FIM Speedway of Nations world champion suffered a painful end to 2025.
The Great Britain international sustained a fractured left tibia and fibula during practice for an event in California last October, leaving him facing a lengthy recovery during the European off-season.
Brennan was named as Ipswich No.1 for 2026 and underlined his ability to spearhead the side by leading the score chart on 12 paid 13 points as Witches won 47-43 away to East Anglian rivals King’s Lynn last Monday.
New Ipswich boss Hurry knows all too well the grit and determination needed to overcome an injury, having suffered a badly broken arm during his one and only season as a Witches rider in 2003.
He has been impressed with Brennan’s fightback. Hurry said: “Since the start of the season, Tom has come back just as strong, if not stronger, than when he rode last year.
“It’s a testament to Tom how he has got himself back to fitness, strength and race sharpness.
“Personally, I know how it feels. I have been in a similar position. The work he would have put in to get back … What more can you say? His results speak for themselves.”
Brennan teams up with Witches skipper Danny King at No.1 and No.2, with the pair piling up 15 points in their four races together at King’s Lynn.
Hurry is also pleased to see King in fine form ahead of the Belle Vue showdown. He said: “Danny’s confidence is growing week by week. I think we are getting back to the best of Danny King. He is enjoying his speedway.
“Although Ipswich is his home track from last year, it’s a fresh, new setup and a new management team, so it probably feels like a new start for him. Hopefully, he can have a good season.”
Witches make some tactical changes as they head to Manchester, with Richard Lawson moving to No.3 to partner Ipswich legend Scott Nicholls, while Polish star Tobiasz Musielak moves to No.5.
Hurry explained: “We just had a chat with Tobi and Richard to see what they felt, and we thought we would change things up. There was no particular reason – we just wanted to see how they went at different numbers.
“Richard said about riding at No.3 and Tobi mentioned about riding at No.5. With Danny and Tom riding well together, I don’t really want to disrupt that because that seems to be a match-winning partnership. We just have to develop more like that.”
Despite completing a home-and-away double over King’s Lynn in the Premiership Knockout Cup, Hurry is expecting Belle Vue to pose a tougher test for his side.
He added: “It has gone well so far, but you can’t take things for granted. We have just raced King’s Lynn at home and away. The tell-tale signs will come on Monday at Belle Vue.
“That will be a challenge – everyone knows what can happen to teams that go there. We’ll just go there and look to keep it close.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon is pleased to see Ipswich come to the tapes for 2026 following their lengthy winter takeover, but he’s determined to send them home from the National Speedway Stadium empty-handed.
He said: “It was very positive news for the league and the sport as a whole when the Ipswich takeover was completed, and they have started well with home and away wins over King’s Lynn.
“But we do hope to send them away pointless, and we can take real encouragement from our two home performances especially.
“Dan (Bewley) was absolutely immaculate on Easter Monday and obviously it’s a great boost to have Brady back at No.1 along with Norick also returning, so we’re at full strength and very keen to open our league season with a win.”
STARTING LINE-UPS:
BELLE VUE ACES: 1. Brady Kurtz (captain), 2. Norick Blodorn, 3. Peter Kildemand, 4. Zach Cook, 5. Dan Bewley, 6. Tate Zischke, 7. Will Cairns.
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES: 1. Tom Brennan, 2. Danny King (captain), 3. Richard Lawson, 4. Scott Nicholls, 5. Tobiasz Musielak, 6. Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, 7. Jason Edwards.