Ipswich Witches v Leicester Lions - Thursday, 22nd May

[foreverblue]

1 hour ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

To be honest the best team won last night.

Becker is the best visiting rider I’ve seen this year so far & it’s probably the best I’ve ever seen him go. The same could be said of Kemp.

The Lions had more in the tank than the Witches, fair play to them.

For Ipswich we move on, however unlike last year when the local track specialist was available week in week out to cover Doyle we might need a temporary replacement.

You simply cannot replace Dan Thompson so were going to struggle in that department too.

I did think a guest would have been better than r/r and maybe next time get a guest.

[bigcatdiary]

18 hours ago, Baldyman said:

If the track is bone dry and extra slick,, the Lions winning wouldn't be a shock,,but I expect the Witches to win by 10 

And that’s the clincher as why the Witches lost, I have read posts of a blue groove again, it appears clubs are still not getting track prep right.

Preparation and Planning Prevent Piss Poor Performance.

 

[Baldyman]

I wasn't there so don't know for sure,, but seems like we were beaten out the starts,, were bikes shortened to try and improve this? Who knows,, but a dry slick track never suits us,, so why was it like it,,, only going by comments about track and blue groove showing it's face again

[Bash]

11 hours ago, Robinh88 said:

Erm I'm not like....

Think about 2026? 

Who knows what 2026 is going to be with Birmingham dropping out. Averages are done on rolling averages so do you really think they are keeping an eye on what score they are losing from this to lower their averages. No team goes out to lose.

Congrats to Leicester last night, caught us at the right time and were better from the gate. Becker & Kemp obviously liked the new track as the best I've seen both ride at Foxhall. I think Dan T is a bigger miss than Doyle at the moment with the form he was in, and agree Tom needs to up his game. 

[bigcatdiary]

18 hours ago, Baldyman said:

If the track is bone dry and extra slick,, the Lions winning wouldn't be a shock,,but I expect the Witches to win by 10 

And that’s the clincher as why the Witches lost, I have read posts of a blue groove again, it appears clubs are still not getting track prep right.

Preparation and Planning Prevent Piss Poor Performance.

 

[IainB]

18 minutes ago, Bash said:

Who knows what 2026 is going to be with Birmingham dropping out.

Listening to Peter Facenna on the British Speedway podcast it sounds like changes maybe afoot or... business as usual!

[GeneralMelchett]

1 hour ago, Baldyman said:

I wasn't there so don't know for sure,, but seems like we were beaten out the starts,, were bikes shortened to try and improve this? Who knows,, but a dry slick track never suits us,, so why was it like it,,, only going by comments about track and blue groove showing it's face again

It was dry, there was the usual grading breaks - there was some overtaking - early on but yes if you were competant and got out in front you should have stayed there.

Edited 7 hours ago by GeneralMelchett

[ShanoXtra]

There wasn’t a blue groove, just lions were better full stop. They gated better and we couldn’t cope, Ellis made the pass of the night and howarth did something similar so the outside was working but people were overcooking it and losing speed on the exit of bend 4. Brennan wasn’t on it tonight and Hume could never fill Thompsons void. Thompson is a bigger miss than Doyle as this point in the league IMO. He beats his opposite number by a large margin and can take on some of the big boys, with Thompson we could have covered RR a lot better. 

[SPEEDY69]

13 hours ago, Robinh88 said:

Great but if you have to chop 4 say good riders next year what's the point? 

Just my view based on what I've observed.

Live in the moment & enjoy the time now, there's always a next year, ask Del Boy!

[Bash]

Makes me laugh on the official british speedway website it reported that this was one of the shocks of the season. If Leicester had beaten us at home with Ipswich at full strength then yes, I would agree. Leicester took advantage of us being depleted and full credit to them for that. 

[SPEEDY69]

4 hours ago, KevtheRev said:

Many of us saw this coming but were hopeful the others could see us through. Well done to Leicester for taking full advantage. Fair play to them.

When you operate R/R for your No.1, everyone else has to chip in with valuable points. Bringing in a reserve that you know is not going to score many points means you're effective a 5 man team - very dangerous.

But the thing that has annoyed me, is the state of the track AGAIN.  Similar to the Bank Holiday, there were blue grooves appearing on the entries to the corner, not as bad but they were there. This meant there was only ever one racing line.  Nobody was using the outside which was the only thing that was getting graded with the new shiny tractor. The temperature and weather was normal in the few days before the meeting. So there were no excuses. Not only did we lose but the racing was poor.  Not good enough.

 

I saw no reason to criticise the track last night.  There was plenty of passing and close racing but the Ipswich team by and large weren't doing it, that's where Doyle sits ahead.  Leicester were just better.  Those surprised by Becker - did you not see him last season, sure he got a hatful then and looked as fast as I'd seen any rider last year.

[SPEEDY69]

2 hours ago, Baldyman said:

I wasn't there so don't know for sure,, but seems like we were beaten out the starts,, were bikes shortened to try and improve this? Who knows,, but a dry slick track never suits us,, so why was it like it,,, only going by comments about track and blue groove showing it's face again

Track wasn't like that at all.  Ellis went around two on the outside on one bend, there were lines inside and out but the Leicester riders found the quick way around and seemed more determined, fighting for their positions/passes and Ipswich riders when behind either didn't want/have the capability or speed to pass.  Again poor team riding from Brennan and Hume in Ht 14, no way Howarth should have passed them both.

[KevtheRev]

There were about 3 or passes that's it. The track was not good.

Racing was much more processional than normal. The blue grove was definitely there, it was single file into the bends. You could see from stands on the back straight and by the last 2 heats it was there on the first bend.

Edited 6 hours ago by KevtheRev

[SPEEDY69]

55 minutes ago, KevtheRev said:

There were about 3 or passes that's it. The track was not good.

Racing was much more processional than normal. The blue grove was definitely there, it was single file into the bends. You could see from stands on the back straight and by the last 2 heats it was there on the first bend.

Three in heat three alone, get over it, Leicester were better, can't blame the track for that.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

[spin king]

14 hours ago, Gavan said:

Everybody saw that coming unless you have no speedway knowledge 

I think Sheffield would have lost at King’s Lynn if it was r/r for Holder and Hume for Kerr 

And to gloat over riders being injured just shows a lack of class 

Every Ipswich fan congratulated Leicester tonight …. Yet we get weird accusations of us lowering our averages …. Then the Belle Vue idiot and now a Sheffield fan gloating …. Belle Vue who we thrashed twice and Sheffield who we held to 2 points …. I’m sure if we have our full 1-7 back we aren’t exactly worried 

 

Everybody saw that coming unless you have no speedway knowledge.

I didn't see it coming, okay I was not expecting the big win that Ipswich have been doing so far this season, but the strength in depth with the Witches I thought that they would come through with a narrow win.

I would put that down to the clever team building the Promotion with one of the best bit of team building.

And to upset you further a team building exercise that can be likened to past Poole teams.  

I think Sheffield would have lost at King’s Lynn if it was r/r for Holder and Hume for Kerr.

I would say you are probably correct, would not disagree with that. 

And to gloat over riders being injured just shows a lack of class.

I don't see where anyone gloats at the Ipswich team having a couple injuries.

There not the first team to suffering injuries and they won't be the last.

Rather playing the victim, why not when someone describes your team as the "Mighty" take it as a compliment, because the team built from Ipswich is very difficult to beat at Foxhall or any other track. 

To win the league you need a decent team, and there also needs to be an element of luck.

The injuries to Doyle and Thompson don't appear to season ending, Ipswich team without those two should still be have enough quality to qualify for the Play Offs, and come Play Offs I would imagine that  Doyle and Thompson will  return they will be the team to beat.  

[KevtheRev]

32 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

Three in heat three alone, get over it, Leicester were better, can't blame the track for that.

I don't need to get over anything. I acknowledged Leicester deserved it in my initial post.

Not blaming the track, just those that prepared it.  We nearly came a cropper on Bank holiday when the track was similar and we had a full team. The team and spectators deserve a properly prepared track.

[SPEEDY69]

38 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

So what?  Leicester still got around there the fastest, both inside and out.  The days of deep tracks are over, riders no longer like it and the tuners/designers have ensured the bikes can no longer cope with it.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

59 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

So what?  Leicester still got around there the fastest, both inside and out.  The days of deep tracks are over, riders no longer like it and the tuners/designers have ensured the bikes can no longer cope with it.

I made no comment - the picture was purely to provide evidence of fact as to track conditions given there had been conflicting posts about the existence of a blue groove

[Bash]

2 hours ago, KevtheRev said:

I don't need to get over anything. I acknowledged Leicester deserved it in my initial post.

Not blaming the track, just those that prepared it.  We nearly came a cropper on Bank holiday when the track was similar and we had a full team. The team and spectators deserve a properly prepared track.

The track was no one near the one for the bank holiday meeting. The Blue groove in the above picture is minimal compared to what it was on bank holiday meeting and wasn't dusty last night.