Aries

But you’ve been a big advocate of the rising star system in the Premiership and you’ve just highlighted one of the major flaws. We disagreed on this topic right from the beginning. Cooper will turn 16 by the time the season starts and so will be on the list IF it remains. Someone will pick him and the concerns you’ve just raised will become valid. There is such a disparity between the riders on the rising star list that makes the whole thing a farcical nonsense. It becomes even more farcical that clubs end up being FORCED to include a rider that they don’t particularly want because after everyone else has had their pick, there’s bugger all left except cannon fodder! You're gonna get one or two clubs that will pick up a ringer that will give them an immediate advantage before a wheel has been turned, and a couple that will have to accept a Sam Hagon or Joe Thompson (with the greatest of respect) that could end up costing that club a league title! The rising star list is actually quite extensive if you look at it. But the vast majority of them shouldn’t even be on there. You wouldn’t take a bet on most of them even getting around for four laps! There’s a very small pool of riders that would even be in the hunt for a single point, but even then there’s a disparity between your Flints, Edwards’ and Mulford’s to your Hagon’s and J Thompson’s. Chuck this rising star balls in the bin. Settle on a points limit, and let every club sign any seven riders they like to fit in to that points limit.

Not naming names as these boys have just won us the title and that would be a bit disrespectful, but there’s a couple there that now look to have expensive averages to me. I’ll leave you to guess who they might be.

I’d take all three personally.

Second last. Sheffield would get last pick under current rules. Let’s see what the 2026 structure brings. May not even see rising stars.

That a hint? Pencil Tom in for 2026.

https://ipswichwitches.co/raceday-guide-tigers-academy-open/ Looking forward to watching the young uns on Thursday. Particularly Cooper.

https://ipswichwitches.co/raceday-guide-tigers-academy-open/ Hopefully plenty turn out to support the youngsters.

Same with Doyle. Was due one, but seemingly hasn’t bothered 🤷🏼‍♂️

Chris Louis was one of those. He admitted he had opportunities to leave Ipswich back in the day and should have moved to a bigger track for the benefit of his career. He just couldn’t bring himself to leave his hometown club that he loved.

Soon to be “hard at work building another winning team”. Winning it is one thing, always that bit harder to retain it the following year as you have to weaken the side, or pretty much start from scratch and build something completely new. We’ll be there or thereabouts though I’m sure.

Some of them might be there Badge? We’ve got the Junior meeting next week and I know Louis wanted some of the senior Witches from this year to be there to help the youngsters with advice etc. I know what you mean though, collectively as an Ipswich team.

I’d personally love to see him at Foxhall and try to get to grips with the track by riding it regularly. He’s such a class rider I’m sure it wouldn’t take him too long to start scoring heavily. It is all a bit weird isn’t it. He’s been praising us for a while and to turn up last night was a surprise. We don’t know what they have in store for next year yet but in any scenario, I don’t think Bewley would fit with his average. Same for Emil. I think they’ll go with Doyle and Brennan because even if the starting team average stays the same, we’ll have to shave off a chunk. If it’s a lower limit, it’ll have to be an even bigger chunk. Going to be an interesting winter to see what they’ve got in store for next year.

Such a nice lad is Dan. One of speedway’s real good guys. Never met anyone with a bad word to say about him.

He really does like it here doesn’t he.. 😁

It could be the most average meeting you’ve ever seen, but a crowd and atmosphere like that just makes a world of difference doesn’t it. The gate receipts last night will have helped Louis no end and good on him. He could have built less expensive teams over the last few years and saved himself some cash but he’s used every bit of help from the sponsors to push the boat out and recruit the best team he could so he deserves that money spinner last night.

Well we got there in the end! Well done boys. Fricke was superb.

Jenkins has beaten bigger and better riders than Becker the last couple of seasons. Seems some have short memories. The stats don’t lie and Edwards isn’t better than Jenkins on any metric. Anyway, Edwards is now in the team and Jenkins isn’t so it’s all a moot point really. Hopefully Edwards has a good meeting tomorrow and contributes! I’m sure he will.

You’re right he did. He asked him to “take a look at it” but he didn’t wanna know.

I’m getting Egon Muller vibes in 83 here. For those old enough to remember 😁

https://ipswichwitches.co/mayor-of-ipswich-to-attend-play-off-final-at-foxhall/ We’re even wheeling out the ol Mayor on Thursday! Reading that, it’s all a bit too presumptuous for me. Leicester have a golden opportunity to do the funniest thing ever here 😁

And what a team that was 😮‍💨

Interestingly, looking at their 2025 averages covering all meetings, Ellis and Rew have an identical average of 6.78. Only difference is their 2025 GSA which has Ellis on 5.84, and Rew on 6.15.

Ipswich 1/14 Leicester 8/1. Might chuck down 20 notes on Leicester at those prices! Hedge my bets so at least I’m compensated if we balls it up on Thursday 😁