Ipswich Witches 2025

[ShanoXtra]

45 minutes ago, norbold said:

From some of the posts above, it looks like we could be losing a Russian but gaining a Rushen….

Rushen Sayfutdinov 🚀✍🏼😆

[mikebv]

2 hours ago, ShanoXtra said:

Nice to see British speedway recognising how brilliant the Ipswich vs Leicester meeting was produced and fan turn out, to remove the British Final Race (which was the best race in years) from the official British speedway homepage and replace it with the Witches winning the title and making it look very professional is a nice touch and shows the sport moving in the right direction, I think all fans who attended that meeting can attest to how amazing the atmosphere was and how the celebrations on the centre green was the perfect finish to the season and also to show how it can/should be done.

Let's hope even half of them stay regulars...

A massive positive if so...

[IainB]

2 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I think it's too early for him, should concentrate on Champ & National leagues next season before stepping up imo.

I know every rider is different, but didn't do Bridger or Boughen much good racing top league racing as soon as they were 16.

Who was the last 16 year old in the top league who excelled?

Joe Screen?

[cowboy cookie returns?]

3 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I think it's too early for him, should concentrate on Champ & National leagues next season before stepping up imo.

I know every rider is different, but didn't do Bridger or Boughen much good racing top league racing as soon as they were 16.

Who was the last 16 year old in the top league who excelled?

Sometimes it depends who the youngster has around them. At Ipswich having Louis, Doyle possibly Emil around him would certainly give Cooper the best start. 

[TTT]

Using this years team building rules 40+ RS whilst taking the Emil rumours into account.

 

1. Doyle 7.59

2. Rew 6.19 / Ellis 5.92

3. Musielak 6.63

4. King 6.50

5. Brennan 7.05

6. D. Thompson 5.87

7. Rushen (RS)

 

39.83 / 39.56

[YeOldPitGate]

3 hours ago, IainB said:

Joe Screen?

Robert Lambert, Carl Stonehewer, Sean Wilson possibly Ray Morten ?

[Ben91]

8 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I think it's too early for him, should concentrate on Champ & National leagues next season before stepping up imo.

I know every rider is different, but didn't do Bridger or Boughen much good racing top league racing as soon as they were 16.

Who was the last 16 year old in the top league who excelled?

Bridger averaged over four in his first top flight season. Hardly struggled. There were good riders in the Elite League in those days too. 

[Gambo95]

On 10/17/2025 at 10:42 AM, DJC said:

Presumably Rushen is nailed on for the RS after Louis being his mentor last night? Did I hear he turns 16 in March?

Would Ipswich not think about keeping Edwards if he still qualifies?

He is just under 4.00 average?

[ShanoXtra]

2 hours ago, TTT said:

Using this years team building rules 40+ RS whilst taking the Emil rumours into account.

 

1. Doyle 7.59

2. Rew 6.19 / Ellis 5.92

3. Musielak 6.63

4. King 6.50

5. Brennan 7.05

6. D. Thompson 5.87

7. Rushen (RS)

 

39.83 / 39.56

Think I’d rather see Rew and Ellis both than Musielak 

[Gambo95]

On 10/17/2025 at 10:42 AM, DJC said:

Presumably Rushen is nailed on for the RS after Louis being his mentor last night? Did I hear he turns 16 in March?

Would Ipswich not think about keeping Edwards if he still qualifies?

He is just under 4.00 average?

[Aries]

26 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

Think I’d rather see Rew and Ellis both than Musielak 

I’d take all three personally.

[ShanoXtra]

3 minutes ago, Aries said:

I’d take all three personally.

And drop who though?

Out of interest, anyone think King might leave Ipswich now he mission is pretty much complete winning both cup and league?

[Aries]

9 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

And drop who though?

Out of interest, anyone think King might leave Ipswich now he mission is pretty much complete winning both cup and league?

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.

[szkocjasid]

10 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I think it's too early for him, should concentrate on Champ & National leagues next season before stepping up imo.

I know every rider is different, but didn't do Bridger or Boughen much good racing top league racing as soon as they were 16.

Who was the last 16 year old in the top league who excelled?

 

8 hours ago, IainB said:

Joe Screen?

 

4 hours ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Robert Lambert, Carl Stonehewer, Sean Wilson possibly Ray Morten ?

I was thinking back to Screen & Loram, then remembered Lambert started in the top flight.

Although interestingly both Loram & Lambert rode in the second division soon after riding in the first division. Screen & Bridger are the ones who stayed in the top league for most of their careers.

[szkocjasid]

7 hours ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Sometimes it depends who the youngster has around them. At Ipswich having Louis, Doyle possibly Emil around him would certainly give Cooper the best start. 

That's a great point, just feel it would be more beneficial for a 17 year old after a season racing in the Champ.

As brilliant as Cooper has been this season, he lost to Mulford at Ipswich, lost to Harrison & Scott at Workington, lost to Morley & Foord at Iwade. Now these riders would be the easiest opponents he'd get to meet in the Prem, even as a RS. So my concern would be it could hurt his confidence racing in the Prem so early in his career, I can't see any negatives to waiting till 2027?

Now this is no slight on Cooper, there's no reason why a 15 should be expected to beat all these guys in his first season, which is the reason why I wouldn't recommend racing in the Prem, just too big a jump for me.

Even if Ipswich said "no pressure, just enjoy yourself" no-one likes to lose each time, plus why wouldn't Ipswich use the best RS possible? Last time they overlooked Kemp & Rowe for Joe T, didn't work out (till they signed Dan).

If he does sign, I hope I'm proved wrong & he does well, I just can't help but think would Boughen have been better taking one step at a time & don't want Cooper to follow suit.

[szkocjasid]

6 hours ago, TTT said:

Using this years team building rules 40+ RS whilst taking the Emil rumours into account.

 

1. Doyle 7.59

2. Rew 6.19 / Ellis 5.92

3. Musielak 6.63

4. King 6.50

5. Brennan 7.05

6. D. Thompson 5.87

7. Rushen (RS)

 

39.83 / 39.56

looks a strong team, I'd have Edwards as RS if he's still an option.

[szkocjasid]

If Edwards is eligible he'd be a great RS, if he's too old now would be available on a 3.00 ave, while Jenkins would be on 3.46.

Singing a former RS with a 25% reduction worked wonders for them this year.

[Arch Stanton]

Under CURRENT rules, Edwards is eligible for a rising star birth. You have to be 23 or under on January 1st (Edwards isn’t 24 until September) and have a Premiership average of 4.00 or under. Edwards qualifies on both counts. 
 

Again under current rules, Ipswich have the option of “protecting” their rising star if he qualifies for the following season so the option would be there for Ipswich to retain him regardless of priority “picks”.

With changes to the structure of the leagues heavily mooted, I’d be surprised if these rules on rising stars stays exactly as it is. I’m not even convinced there will be a “rising star” for the Premiership next season but we’ll have to wait and see on that.

Last I heard a week or so ago, with the AGM a month away, several meetings have already taken place and literally none of those involved can agree on anything! It could be a long winter…

Edited 5 hours ago by Arch Stanton

[Aries]

10 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

That's a great point, just feel it would be more beneficial for a 17 year old after a season racing in the Champ.

As brilliant as Cooper has been this season, he lost to Mulford at Ipswich, lost to Harrison & Scott at Workington, lost to Morley & Foord at Iwade. Now these riders would be the easiest opponents he'd get to meet in the Prem, even as a RS. So my concern would be it could hurt his confidence racing in the Prem so early in his career, I can't see any negatives to waiting till 2027?

Now this is no slight on Cooper, there's no reason why a 15 should be expected to beat all these guys in his first season, which is the reason why I wouldn't recommend racing in the Prem, just too big a jump for me.

Even if Ipswich said "no pressure, just enjoy yourself" no-one likes to lose each time, plus why wouldn't Ipswich use the best RS possible? Last time they overlooked Kemp & Rowe for Joe T, didn't work out (till they signed Dan).

If he does sign, I hope I'm proved wrong & he does well, I just can't help but think would Boughen have been better taking one step at a time & don't want Cooper to follow suit.

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. 

[cowboy cookie returns?]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

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.

Cooper & the team around him seem very level headed. I think everyone would love to see Cooper become a Witch.

However I think if Coopers team decides it’s too early then he’ll give it a miss. If he is picked he doesn’t have to accept the rs position.

Louis could well be one of those who is advising him who knows.