The Lakeside Hammers go into this week’s make or break clashes with Belle Vue and Ipswich with just three of their regular team after confirmation from the Czech Republic that young reserve Lubos Tomicek will be out of action for the next ten days as the result of concussion sustained in Sweden a week ago.
?Tomicek was already due to miss this Wednesday's big home clash with Belle Vue due to a Czech federation recall but will now sit out Thursday’s all important clash away at Ipswich and must be rated doubtful for next week’s three meetings in as many days.
?The news comes hot on the heels of Team Manager Jon Cook's surprise change of riding order for the visit of the Aces with the Andreas Jonsson and Leigh Lanham pairing switched to the numbers 3 and 4 position.
?Jon Cook:
"Losing Lubos ahead of us visiting Ipswich is another blow especially as it’s one of his better tracks but we have a good deputy in Kauko Nieminen and provided Lubos can get back for our meeting on the 19th against Peterborough no damage should be done to our aspirations. I am also looking ahead to the Play Off’s and have decided to move things around with a plan in mind based upon being in the mix at home in three week’s time, mainly to make sure we have Leigh available later in the meeting than at present."
Cook continued:
"This is a big week for the Play Off scene and with Poole losing Davey Watt for their home meeting with Ipswich this Wednesday, and maybe even beyond, although their fixture run-in with no clashes with Poland will make it easier for them to find a replacement. It could be that the pendulum is swinging back towards the Witches. However, we need to be positive and look at the fact that all our remaining meetings are very winnable and a finish in top spot is now not out of the equation. In fact, should Ipswich win their appeal over the Swindon ineligible rider issue they could still reach 51 points but I think we are more than capable of reaching 52, despite our injury problems".
?King’s Lynn's Czech Republic star Tomas Topinka comes into the Hammers line up at Ipswich for his fellow countryman, Lubos Tomicek, with Kauko Nieminen dropping to reserve.
?The Hammers revised teams for the week ahead are as follows:-
?Wednesday 10th September - Home v Belle Vue:
1. Rider Replacement (for Adam Shields)
2. Lewis Bridger (Guest for Joonas Kylmakorpi)
3. Andreas Jonsson
4. Leigh Lanham
5. Edward Kennett (Guest for Jonas Davidsson)
6. Ricky Kling,
7. Kauko Nieminen.
?Thursday 11th September – Away v Ipswich:
1. Andreas Jonsson
2. Leigh Lanham
3. Rider Replacement (for Adam Shields)
4. Tomas Topinka (Guest for Joonas Kylmakorpi)
5. Edward Kennett (Guest for Jonas Davidsson)
6. Ricky Kling
7. Kauko Nieminen.?
More information on the Hammers: lakesidehammers.co.uk
