Speedway: Emil Sayfutdinov leaves in ambulance after last heat crash shock in Ipswich loss at Sheffield

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Sheffield secured a last gasp win over Ipswich tonight - but there were no celebrations as the meeting was marred by a last-heat injury to the visitors’ Emil Sayfutdinov.

Ipswich, who had led for much of the meeting, went into heat 15 leading 43-41, and needed just to secure a 3-3 draw to win the meeting.

But after with Sheffield number one Jack Holder leading the heat ahead of Sayfutdinov, and Tru7Group Tigers guest Chris Harris in third place, the home team looked set to level the scores and force a superheat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Russian attempted a bold overtake just before the final bend of the last lap, but over shot and heavily struck the air fence, with the impact flinging him back into the track.

Harris, who had been a few yards behind, also came off his bike as he tried to avoid Sayfutdinov.

Chris Harris was able to walk back to the pits after receiving treatment. File picture.Chris Harris was able to walk back to the pits after receiving treatment. File picture.
Chris Harris was able to walk back to the pits after receiving treatment. File picture. | National world

Both were surrounded by ambulancemen on the shale. Harris was soon able to stand up and walk back to the pits.

But Sayfutinov was taken off the track on a stretcher, and then taken away in the ambulance. The stadium announcers confirmed he was conscious and speaking to other riders and medical personnel.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There was no re-run, with the heat was awarded as a 5-1 to Sheffield, with Sayfutdinov excluded as the cause of he stoppage.

It left the score at 46-44 to Sheffield.

Tigers usually celebrate their victories with a riders’ walkabout to applaud their fans. But with the mood subdued by the injured to Sayfutdinov, that did not happen.

The club later said on social media: “Everyone at Sheffield Speedway would like to send our best wishes to Ipswich’s Emil Sayfutdinov after a sickening crash in Heat 15 at Owlerton tonight.”

Sheffield had taken a winning start early on, after Jack Holder and Kyle Howarth had taken a 5-1 heat advantage in heat one.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Ipswich hit straight back to level the scores in heat two, the reserve race.

Ipswich at one stage had led by six points, after Sayfutdinov and Dan Thompson had won heat 10 with a 4-2, Sayfutinov finishing ahead of Jack Holder.

But Tigers boss Simon Stead made a tactical substitution in heat 11, bringing in Jack Holder for Jason Edwards, which meant a 4-2 win for Sheffield reduced the deficit to four.

Then Tigers leveled the scores with a 5-1 heat advantage in heat 13, a heat which saw Harris storm from third to first, passing Ipswich’s Adam Ellis, and Tiger Jack Holder.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A 4-2 win for Ipswich had put the visitors two points ahead, before the events of heat 15.

Rowe Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich remain two points clear of Sheffield, both teams having ridden 19 meetings.

Sheffield 46: Jack Holder 16+1, Chris Harris 11+1, Kyle Howarth 6+2, Chris Holder 6, Josh Pickering 5+1, Jason Edwards 1, Dan Gilkes 1.

Ipswich 44: Emil Sayfutdinov 13+1, Adam Ellis 9, Keynan Rew 7, Jordan Jenkins 6+2, Dan Thompson 5, Danny King 4, Jason Doyle r/r.

How they stand: Ipswich M 19 Pts34, Sheffield 19 32, Belle Vue 19 29, Leicester 18 26, Oxford 20 23, King’s Lynn Stars 16 11, Birmingham 19 6

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1887
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice