Ipswich Witches 2026

[TB1]

52 minutes ago, mikebv said:

It is summising, (due to the lack of transparency from those who run the sport), if it was £60k they got last year from TV...

Over 13 guaranteed home matches that worked out at just over £4600 a match...

Meaning, at £25 a pop, the same as 184 paying punters..

I would suggest the lack of teams in the league, therefore meaning a lack of jeopardy and  variety, (even last year with seven), kept more than 184 punters from their track very regularly...

They will need a hell of a TV deal this year I would suggest, as I reckon you can add another 100 minimum to that 184 who will give plenty of meetings a miss with just four different teams..

And if they don't get a TV deal...?

Then heaven help them...

Get the prayer mat out!!!!

 

Surely we should be encouraging the retired or quit riders out of retirement for the sports sake. But of course no one will take a punt on them will they.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

1 minute ago, TB1 said:

Surely we should be encouraging the retired or quit riders out of retirement for the sports sake. But of course no one will take a punt on them will they.

I reckon Donkey could still kick ass against the lower end Championship and NDL 

[ouch]

35 minutes ago, PhilTheAce said:

we all want to see the best, thats who we enjoy most, but lets not lie to ourselves, do the top boys produce best racing??? in poland yes where the level of competition is much more level.

 

over here 90% of the time, the kurtz, bewleys, doyles, frickes, emils, holders of this world just gate and clear off winning by the length of the straight, theirs only really heats 13 and &15 we look forward to, and then most of the time the tracks aint prepped to produce good racing anyway.

 

championship for me does have better racing due to most of them being on a similar level.

 

was it around 2016/17 when they changed the race format and all the top boys raced each other and the lower team raced each other, racing wise that was a phenomenal season, but obviously messed up riders averages, if they could bring that format again the sport could blossom with a premiership

Looking at the teams that finished in the middle of the table, namely Belle Vue & Berwick, the difference in average between the top three and bottom three is GREATER in the championship. The stats don’t back up the suggestion that racing is better in the championship due to them all being of a similar standard. Just like the idea of variety, this is another championship fallacy. 

 

[GeneralMelchett]

18 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

Agreed.  In recent seasons at Foxhall watching Doyle thread his way through opposition riders has been fantastic.

 

yes or Emil show his complete mastery of the throttle, or even Danny pull off a outside pass, if Ipswich and Sheffield dont come to the tapes in 2026 then it will have to be just the occasional trip to either Scunthorpe or Belle Vue 

[therefused]

28 minutes ago, Aries said:

Those world class riders can produce moments of absolute quality at times though Phil where they literally leave your jaw on the floor and you just know you’re watching the sports Elite. Emil at Leicester a few weeks ago for example, Fricke at the same venue earlier in the season when he made a terrible gate, etc etc. the last few years at Foxhall seeing Emil and Doyle in 13 and 15 was just magical. I’m sorry, you just don’t get that same buzz seeing King and Charles Wright in the same heats. You just don’t I’m afraid. 
 

As I say though, there are die hard fans of the sport who will go regardless, and good luck to them. But let’s not pretend a watered down product won’t majorly affect attendances. The attendances at Championship level generally, is pathetic bar one or two obvious exceptions. 

Ive seen moments of absolute quality in the national league and championship too, its not just the world class riders. Its obvious at this point the premiership experiment has failed and clubs (apart from maybe two) cannot afford to fork out the big contracts anymore. 

[GeneralMelchett]

9 minutes ago, therefused said:

Ive seen moments of absolute quality in the national league and championship too, its not just the world class riders. Its obvious at this point the premiership experiment has failed and clubs (apart from maybe two) cannot afford to fork out the big contracts anymore. 

There is, I saw a worldy of a free scored for Hallam FC the other week, as good as any you will see in the Premier League - however that was dispatched in front of 549 fans which for an non league football match is healthy - but a somewhat dull and unspiring Steel City derby yesterday was attended by 32k and we didn't see a stunning free kick! 

In some respects all sports need a bit of a reset as costs have been outweighing revenues for years. 

[singy13]

On 11/22/2025 at 3:04 PM, Pinny said:

. Look at the crowds, they are disgraceful. 

Attendance figures are never given to the public (apart from play off finals ?) so how do you know these secretive numbers?  Obviously the sport is in a big decline!

[hammer1969]

Taking Iwade and Mildenhall out of the picture, If Ipswich close down my nearest stadiums depending on the traffic 2 hours each way to Oxford,  2and half hours each way to Leicester,  3 and half hours each way to Poole, a sport I've followed since the mid 60s is now no longer viable - gutted is putting it mildly and I can't be the only one who can no longer go to speedway because of the travelling distance.  If I feel like it I will be able to go to Ipswich if it runs whether in the top league or championship, depending on what diabolical system comes out of the AGM in January but whether by next Spring I will be inclined to bother remains to be seen.

[PersonalResponsibility]

How would they manage play-offs with 5 teams?

Top to the final, the other 4 in a play-off to get there? Makes the whole season pointless. 

Top 4 as always - one team missing out isn't ideal.

No play-offs?

Though this is probably the least of our worries with a 5-team league.

[IainB]

16 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

How would they manage play-offs with 5 teams?

Top to the final, the other 4 in a play-off to get there? Makes the whole season pointless. 

Top 4 as always - one team missing out isn't ideal.

No play-offs?

Though this is probably the least of our worries with a 5-team league.

Could be top to the final 2nd v 3rd to the final

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, Neila said:

1 league simply won't work, several championship clubs are happy riding on a weekend day , so no top riders will be interested in riding away at say worky/Berwick on a Saturday when polish £s call . But the top league need more than 5 teams, if this happens you'll probably see the same teams 3 times at home or away, that would not encourage me to buy a season ticket, and would think twice of watching the same opposition every month 

For the weekend away legs the clubs can just use  guests to replace their missing riders,  just as they do now, and have done for pretty much ever...

Does it look a "bit Mickey Mouse" and "contrived"? Of course it does, but no different from now, as it is an integral part of the current chosen operating model, hence teams riding, for example, on a Wednesday, sign Danish riders knowing they will most likely miss some of their meetings..

The optics of a five team top league wont bring anyone extra in to watch it, as it will look ridiculous..

It is getting to the levels of those football leagues on the more remote islands dotted around the UK, where the same two teams play each other every week in their "Island League"..

They also share players. If one team doesn't have eleven players due to work commitments, injuries,  holidays etc then the other team lends them players..

(Maybe that is where UK Speedway got the idea from?) 

A 14 team league running from Scotland to the South Coast will at least look like a it's a "National Sport" that is being ran...

And, with 14 teams, you would hope, that eight or nine at least would remain in play off contention to late into the season, meaning some jeopardy and consequence to a good many meetings..

Edited 7 hours ago by mikebv

[YeOldPitGate]

1 hour ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

I reckon Donkey could still kick ass against the lower end Championship and NDL 

Get Kevin Brice back probably the best trapper in history only problem was the other three riders were generally all in front of him by the exit of bend two.

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I just don’t understand why they insist 2 leagues when we are in the situation were in, there is either a tv or sponsorship deal looming and they don’t want to split the money or there is a we are better than them attitude towards the championship of which they are not, 5 teams is financial suicide, they must know this 

Firstly, Its not clear by who you mean as "they" insisting on two leagues- but I presume you mean the current Premiership promoters. 
Secondly, You say a five team league would be financial suicide. Well instead of painting the Premiership promoters as the bad guys (as you clearly do) why don't you at least acknowledge that losses incurred by the Premiership promoters are covered by each individual promotion/club with no impact on the financial results of the championship promoters. In reality, it most probably helps them as riders doubling up are able to get two sources of income lessening the demands on championship clubs. 
Thirdly. You say you "don't understand why "they" insist on 2 leagues". Well maybe that's because you just stubbornly refuse to take on board the reasons that have been stated over and over again on this forum.

1. Some promoters are of the belief that a league featuring the very best riders is the best way to promote the sport both at club and national level and they are prepared to foot the bill. This means that in the UK clubs at the "Elite" level have to abide by the globally agreed reserved race nights. Monday & Thursday. 
2. If the top tier of speedway as we know it, was to be disbanded and the reserved race nights "ignored" in favor of one league,  there would be a significant number of current day riders not available to race in the UK due to their contractual obligations with clubs in other countries. There would also be a removal of riders being available to race for more than one club due to the removal of the Doubling up facility. This would mean sufficient riders (say) of todays championship level to make eight teams possible - No more.
3. An alternative to having one eight team league of championship quality is to greatly reduce the team building points limit so that all existing NDL level of riders could be included which could just about mean twelve teams being created for the one big league.  
4. A further alternative is to divide the one big league "talent" of point 3 into two leagues with one comprising (say) six or seven teams operating full time/professional riders and the remainder of six/seven teams running on a semi pro/amateur basis. 

Point 1. Requires the very best of riders to be available - and promoters willing to "give it a go" with a plan to attract TV/sponsorship at a national level to help with their costs.
Point 2. Requires the loss of five or six clubs to professional racing - maybe to run NDL level on an expanded basis.
Point 3. Requires a substantial reduction in team building numbers with an ensuing drop in quality of on track racing.
Point4. Means a restriction in top tier teams with the quality/ability of riders competing being significantly lower than point 1. reducing the appeal of a national TV deal and significant sponsors.    

[Tinker]

Some on here seem to be getting carried away with the fact that there will be no Ipswich or Sheffield next year and making assumptions without any background information/knowledge regarding the situation. Just best to be patient, let the BSPL get on with whatever they're doing and all hope for a satisfactory outcome. 

I agree a five team Prem is unsustainable, boring and not something to get excited about in any shape or form. I hope they have something more radical in mind for the good and future proofing of British Speedway. 

[IainB]

13 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

Firstly, Its not clear by who you mean as "they" insisting on two leagues- but I presume you mean the current Premiership promoters. 
Secondly, You say a five team league would be financial suicide. Well instead of painting the Premiership promoters as the bad guys (as you clearly do) why don't you at least acknowledge that losses incurred by the Premiership promoters are covered by each individual promotion/club with no impact on the financial results of the championship promoters. In reality, it most probably helps them as riders doubling up are able to get two sources of income lessening the demands on championship clubs. 
Thirdly. You say you "don't understand why "they" insist on 2 leagues". Well maybe that's because you just stubbornly refuse to take on board the reasons that have been stated over and over again on this forum.

1. Some promoters are of the belief that a league featuring the very best riders is the best way to promote the sport both at club and national level and they are prepared to foot the bill. This means that in the UK clubs at the "Elite" level have to abide by the globally agreed reserved race nights. Monday & Thursday. 
2. If the top tier of speedway as we know it, was to be disbanded and the reserved race nights "ignored" in favor of one league,  there would be a significant number of current day riders not available to race in the UK due to their contractual obligations with clubs in other countries. There would also be a removal of riders being available to race for more than one club due to the removal of the Doubling up facility. This would mean sufficient riders (say) of todays championship level to make eight teams possible - No more.
3. An alternative to having one eight team league of championship quality is to greatly reduce the team building points limit so that all existing NDL level of riders could be included which could just about mean twelve teams being created for the one big league.  
4. A further alternative is to divide the one big league "talent" of point 3 into two leagues with one comprising (say) six or seven teams operating full time/professional riders and the remainder of six/seven teams running on a semi pro/amateur basis. 

Point 1. Requires the very best of riders to be available - and promoters willing to "give it a go" with a plan to attract TV/sponsorship at a national level to help with their costs.
Point 2. Requires the loss of five or six clubs to professional racing - maybe to run NDL level on an expanded basis.
Point 3. Requires a substantial reduction in team building numbers with an ensuing drop in quality of on track racing.
Point4. Means a restriction in top tier teams with the quality/ability of riders competing being significantly lower than point 1. reducing the appeal of a national TV deal and significant sponsors.    

Just to pick out the TV deal section of your points... Sky, BT Sport and now TNT Sports have all binned Speedway off in the recent past and that was with the "GP Stars"... they're clearly not interested in Speedway at the moment especially with the rise of women playing men's sport (👈 that's a joke btw 😂)

Edited 6 hours ago by IainB

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, GeneralMelchett said:

There is, I saw a worldy of a free scored for Hallam FC the other week, as good as any you will see in the Premier League - however that was dispatched in front of 549 fans which for an non league football match is healthy - but a somewhat dull and unspiring Steel City derby yesterday was attended by 32k and we didn't see a stunning free kick! 

In some respects all sports need a bit of a reset as costs have been outweighing revenues for years. 

And if you were able to either of the Sheffield teams to Hallam for a challenge match featuring the top line ups from both sides you can be assured of two things - all joking aside.
1. The ground would be filled to capacity.
2. The Sheffield team would win at a canter 
However,  not sure how new fans that would bring in at the following Hallam home game. 

[Phannan]

6 hours ago, mikebv said:

It certainly won't interest all the considerable amount of punters who used to go regularly and now either attend "now and again", or not at all...

I will stick to the PCMM, the two GP's and (maybe), a Play Off meeting...

And not bother going anywhere else to watch, as I have been to the other four tracks several times...

Just imagine the euphoria though in the town or city of whoever wins the prestigious title of  "Speedway GB Premiership Champion"?.....

(Be like winning the Meat Raffle in the local Legion)...

I don’t think there’s much more prestige to winning a 6 team league to be honest. And there definitely can’t be any in winning the championship when there’s only 2 possible winners from the outset. 

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

1 hour ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

How would they manage play-offs with 5 teams?

Top to the final, the other 4 in a play-off to get there? Makes the whole season pointless. 

Top 4 as always - one team missing out isn't ideal.

No play-offs?

Though this is probably the least of our worries with a 5-team league.

 

1 hour ago, IainB said:

Could be top to the final 2nd v 3rd to the final

All in WWE Royal Rumnle style with 5 rider heats

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

18 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

Firstly, Its not clear by who you mean as "they" insisting on two leagues- but I presume you mean the current Premiership promoters. 
Secondly, You say a five team league would be financial suicide. Well instead of painting the Premiership promoters as the bad guys (as you clearly do) why don't you at least acknowledge that losses incurred by the Premiership promoters are covered by each individual promotion/club with no impact on the financial results of the championship promoters. In reality, it most probably helps them as riders doubling up are able to get two sources of income lessening the demands on championship clubs. 
Thirdly. You say you "don't understand why "they" insist on 2 leagues". Well maybe that's because you just stubbornly refuse to take on board the reasons that have been stated over and over again on this forum.

1. Some promoters are of the belief that a league featuring the very best riders is the best way to promote the sport both at club and national level and they are prepared to foot the bill. This means that in the UK clubs at the "Elite" level have to abide by the globally agreed reserved race nights. Monday & Thursday. 
2. If the top tier of speedway as we know it, was to be disbanded and the reserved race nights "ignored" in favor of one league,  there would be a significant number of current day riders not available to race in the UK due to their contractual obligations with clubs in other countries. There would also be a removal of riders being available to race for more than one club due to the removal of the Doubling up facility. This would mean sufficient riders (say) of todays championship level to make eight teams possible - No more.
3. An alternative to having one eight team league of championship quality is to greatly reduce the team building points limit so that all existing NDL level of riders could be included which could just about mean twelve teams being created for the one big league.  
4. A further alternative is to divide the one big league "talent" of point 3 into two leagues with one comprising (say) six or seven teams operating full time/professional riders and the remainder of six/seven teams running on a semi pro/amateur basis. 

Point 1. Requires the very best of riders to be available - and promoters willing to "give it a go" with a plan to attract TV/sponsorship at a national level to help with their costs.
Point 2. Requires the loss of five or six clubs to professional racing - maybe to run NDL level on an expanded basis.
Point 3. Requires a substantial reduction in team building numbers with an ensuing drop in quality of on track racing.
Point4. Means a restriction in top tier teams with the quality/ability of riders competing being significantly lower than point 1. reducing the appeal of a national TV deal and significant sponsors.    

And very little of that applys to my post, you have just assumed that my view is degrade the sport on all fronts and hope it works well it isn’t so all that is just your opinion which is fine if that’s your view but it’s not mine, I have a plan which covers how 1 league would work with the top riders but it’s too long to detail on here, I might talk about it on the 360 podcast when I’m next on but I don’t get to choose the subjects 

[1 valve]

1 minute ago, IainB said:

Just to pick out the TV deal section of your points... Sky, BT Sport and now TNT Sports have all binned Speedway of in the recent past and that was worth the "GP Stars"... they're clearly not interested in Speedway at the moment especially with the rise of women playing men's sport (👈 that's a joke btw 😂)

Sky did - BT didn't. 
BT transferred the broadcasting rights as part of the new joint venture TNT rebranding . BT are currently finalising a deal to sell their remaining 50% of TNT to their current partner Warner Bros. Discovery and as WBD have yet to finalise a strategy of how to align their over the air (OTA) and streaming strategy their preferred action is not to renew contracts with none priority sports bodies. As you say...at the moment. 
However, when they or others do come to the table we should not expect them to be jumping up and down with excitement if anything other than  that which provides some if not all GP riders AKA a top flight Premier League.