IPSWICH speedway fans will be hoping Jesper B Jensen makes the same impact in 2007 as he did during his previous stint in the Witches side.The 29-year-old Dane was last week signed on loan from Peterborough to replace the injured Mark Loram for the remainder of the season.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH speedway fans will be hoping Jesper B Jensen makes the same impact in 2007 as he did during his previous stint in the Witches side.

The 29-year-old Dane was last week signed on loan from Peterborough to replace the injured Mark Loram for the remainder of the season.

He makes his return to the Witches side against Lakeside Hammers in the Sky Sports Elite League at Foxhall Stadium tonight (start 7.30pm).

Jensen made 39 appearances for Ipswich in 2004, scoring one paid maximum when the Witches beat Coventry Bees at home. He was forced to move on the following year because of rider control and red tape.

But he played his part to the full during his previous time at Foxhall with Ipswich reaching the final of the Knock-Out Cup before losing to Poole. They were also pipped in a gripping league play-off semi-final after a run-off at Wolverhampton.

Three seasons ago Jensen had current Grand Prix riders Scott Nicholls and Hans Andersen as Witches team-mates, and he won't find such illustrious company this time.

But an improving Ipswich will be looking for their sixth consecutive home victory against a Lakeside team making their third visit of the season to Foxhall.

The Hammers bring a 23-point lead to Foxhall after a 58-35 victory at Purfleet in the corresponding B fixture on May 25.

Their only victory on the road this season came at Reading, but on their last visit to Suffolk they frustrated the Witches by taking a Good Friday afternoon point in a 44-44 draw.

While the bonus point may be out of reach, the Witches know that two points will make catching their local rivals in the table a real possibility.

The Hammers signed Lubos Tomicek, 21, this week. He is a former team mate of Jensen in the now-defunct Oxford side and the young Czech Republic rider was due to make his Lakeside debut last night against Reading.

Tomicek is scheduled to race at No. 7 with Ipswich-based Leigh Lanham going back into the top five.

Wolverhampton loanee Christian Hefenbrock has dropped out of the side.

Adam Shields will be making his seventh Foxhall appearance this season, after the Australian guested successfully for Loram in four home Ipswich meetings.

Likely line-ups

Ipswich: Jensen, Jansson, Louis, Suchecki, Miskowiak, Rempala, Kroner.

Lakeside: Shields, Bager, Kasprzak, Lanham, Kylmakorpi, Hurry, Tomicek.