Arch Stanton

Nah, should be hitting 60 here so Witches by 30

Very impressed by the professionalism of Gino Manzares. He was kitted out like an established GP star yesterday. Well sponsored, and his machines sparkled and clearly look tip top. The lad looks very well prepared.

And the thousands who'll pick up an Ipswich Star the next morning... But yes a pity they stopped public entry to the press and practice.

What is it with you and this bizarre fascination with this?? To put this to bed once and for all, the title "Director Of Speedway" was used for Chris Louis as he couldn't be titled "promoter" or "co-promoter" because he didn't have a promoters licence. He had basically taken over the day to day running of the club from John Louis, but wasn't officially a promoter. He now does have his promoters licence and has for some time, but the local media, and for whatever reason the official website, have stuck with the Director Of Speedway tag. It really is no big deal!!

Chris Louis..

That's the problem when you have more than one league and riders riding in more than one league. The PL used to be the stable league with settled sides every week. Not any more it seems. And agree regarding Good Friday. It's already looking like a bit of a farce unfortunately.

I think this will start to grate as the season wears on. We were always told that one of the big plus points of the Premier League as apposed to the EL is more regular settled sides. Not sure that will now be the case with the changes this season. Not sure there's much difference in the quantity of the fixtures in both leagues now either?

Barker wasn't consistent with us last year either. In fact, he had a poor year by his standards and we still finished second. A few teams would have finished over the limit this year and would have to shed points. We however, have come out of that pretty well and despite finishing the season well over the limit, are not far off the strength of last year where we just missed out on top spot. Look through the side and it's full of improvers.

Interesting post from "Montie" on the Plymouth thread, is he implying that Rasmus Jensen has signed for Ipswich?

Mike Bacon just tweeted that the full Witches 1-7 named tomorrow in the Ipswich Star and EADT.

http://www.speedway365.com/worrall-in-for-witches-move/ So Worrall it is. Very good signing.

The 6 minus Barker are not bad riders don't get me wrong, but if it is just the one change and those 6 return it's hardly going to excite the fans. Fresh faces needed.

It's not that he should be, more that he WILL be. We all know it so putting up a 1-7 without him in it is futile.

Tungate is now heavily backed, and has super fast machinery for next season. He too should be a certain starter. Along with Risager..

Dreamland? You make it sound as if it's a massive jump up that is far beyond us, and the likes of Lindgren is a quality of rider we've never seen at Foxhall before. A couple of seasons in the PL seems to have eradicated the top flight memories of some it seems. It's a given that IF Louis decided the time was right to return, then he would have to put together a team more competitive than the last couple of seasons in the top flight. If he didn't think he had the finance to do that, then we'll stay exactly where we are it's as simple as that. If the overall cost of running an Elite league team is drastically reduced as some are predicting, then perhaps it will be more manageable and appealing to the promotion. What isn't up for debate, is that the clubs in the top flight make far more appealing opposition to Ipswich in terms of local rivalry, than those in the PL.

agree to an extent. But perhaps, or probably, Louis also recognises this? Lindgren at Wolves has had a tough year, and is looking for a change. Maybe he would be a good signing? With maybe Nicholls and Sundstrom as back up? Lots of possibilities. I do however, agree with others that more local meetings with Lynn, Lakeside, Peterborough and Eastie would be a shot in the arm for us. A good Friday with Lynn alone would bring in far more supporters than we've seen for many a year.

After the very public song and dance Glasgow made earlier in the season about wanting Joe as a club asset, I'd like to think so!! Where is that cheque by the way? It's a long time coming!

Again, unless Ipswich re-join the top tier in whatever shape or form that is in the next few years, that will be impossible as Heeps in particular with outgrow the PL in a year or two if he maintains his progress. Ideally, would be nice to have both in reserve berths for the top flight Witches.

Would love to see the club riding in the top tier again. It's not so much the better standard of rider (and I appreciate that gap isn't what it once was), it's more the clubs that are currently in the two divisions. There hasn't really been any kind of rivalry for Ipswich in the PL, and I think riding against Lynn, Peterborough, Lakeside and Eastbourne again would give the club a lift. The team has done fairly well in the PL, but I just feel that this season things have been a little flat around Foxhall. More local rivalry is needed in my opinion. We would need to be more competitive than last time out, and avoid the cheap rubbish Pole route we took a shine to. But with any top flight expected to cut costs further with the threat of the Sky deal not renewing, perhaps it may become a little more affordable and worth another shot. Going to be an interesting few months ahead.

Really hope we can do the comets a big favour tonight.

Not even close for me. Hawkins has done well recently, but he took an awful long time to get going and to be honest, looked woeful for a couple of months. Where as Heeps has been consistently good all season long. Agreed. On similar averages too.

Strange one regarding the entertainment. At the mid way point of the season I'd have agreed with you, but for whatever reason, the second half of the season the entertainment dried up for me. Same track, similar preparation, so a strange one. No silverware, but worth remembering that we finished runners up in the league table, and only missed out on topping the final table in heat 15 of our last meeting. Pretty good considering most predictions pre-season didn't even have us making the play offs.

Risager anywhere in the 1-7 is where the wheels come off. When it came to the crunch, Risager went AWOL big time. When Ipswich dropped to the Premier League, both Doolan and Risager were signed as club assets to help the club in this division. Both riders disappointed and didn't fulfil the hopes of the promotion and fans alike. But only one was given the old tin tac while the other is still here disappointing after 3 years. And some are quick to come on here and shoot down suggestions by some, including good old Jackal!, that Risager is only in the team based on non speedway matters. I personally think Jackal was right about this one.

Agreed, they look very very strong. The one area you could say could be targeted was their reserves, but it looks like they've made a very good choice bringing in Wright, despite the criticism they took in doing so.

It should count, his level is better than 3 points at PL level. This isn't a witchhunt, it happens, and it happened last night. The bottom line is Risager let the team down yesterday and he knows it. There's no point dressing it up any other way. And I agree with you, I'd expect Risager to be one of the first names on the team sheet for next year, whatever League we find ourselves in!