Workington Comets skipper Troy Batchelor scored seven and a bonus for Northampton as the Foxes made their Premiership debut last night.
They were beaten 50-40 at King’s Lynn in the Premiership KO Cup southern section.
Stars skipper Chris Harris was in excellent form with 12+2 from five rides, and he shared in three 5-1s with the in-form Ben Cook.
The Foxes put in an encouraging display in their first meeting and had the majority of race winners, nine to the home side’s six, with Jaimon Lidsey taking the flag four times on his way to a bumper 15+1 haul from seven rides.
Batchelor, riding at two, had a win, a second and two thirds in his six rides while ex-Comets Nicolai Klindt (4) won his first race and another former Workington rider Luke Harrison collected two points and a bonus from his third and last ride at reserve.
Northampton co-promoter Paul Hunsdon said: “For a brand new team and a new set-up we’re really pleased with the way it went.
“I thought Jaimon showed every inch of his ability, it was a great performance and his ride in Heat 15 just summed it up.
“The King’s Lynn boys rode very well, but we’ll accept the ten-point deficit and I think everyone has gone home reasonably happy with their performance.”
Meanwhile Batchelor’s Workington team-mate Tate Zischke scored four points and a bonus for Belle Vue in a dramatic 51-39 win over Ipswich at the National Speedway Stadium.
The young Australian won the reserves race and then after two blanks earned a bonus point third in his final ride.
The Aces had to fight back from eight points down to overcome Ipswich who stunned their hosts with back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 4 and 5 to go 19-11 up with rising star Jason Edwards defeating world number three, West Cumbrian Dan Bewley.
But the Aces came roaring back with Brady Kurtz in sensational form, and they took the lead for the first time in Heat 10.
Both teams used tactical substitutes during the meeting but while Tom Brennan won Heat 14 for the Witches, a 3-3 ensured a home win before Kurtz and Bewley wrapped things up with a last race 5-1.
Kurtz piled up 17 points from six rides for the Aces with Bewley on 10+3, unbeaten by a Witches rider after his first outing.
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “Ipswich got off to a great start and that was a little bit concerning, I’m not going to lie, and having to use a tactical in Heat 7 wasn’t the plan!
“I wasn’t feeling too optimistic that we could turn it around in a heartbeat, and the resistance that Ipswich put up against us was a good effort.
“But we came good at the end and obviously we had Brady and Dan performing like they have, which is fantastic, but we don’t want to be relying on those guys week-in-week-out.”
