Ipswich Witches 2026

[mikebv]

19 minutes ago, Ray Stadia said:

Speedway has been a car crash forever, but for the last 10 years, it's been a multiple car crash! 

There has certainly been plenty of dense fog blinding the way....

[TTT]

Waiting patiently for months hasn't been ideal but it could've been a whole lot worse.

[Hawk127]

Whatever the outcome and most hope that Ipswich come to the tapes come March, April or May, generally the sport is unlikely to entice broadcasters to cover the sport live, it has been a disaster the way things have carried on thus far, sponsors probably unwilling to commit without a t v contract, riders dropping the UK, no idea of a fixture list and the sapping interest of the UK punters who are losing the will to get excited with any enthusiasm about the coming season.
You have so few if any new ideas to rejuvenate a dying product and a total lack of general tangible investment in the sport at any level leaves most wondering just how much longer it can it continue in any form other than an amateur part time pursuit by a few enthusiast.
Unless those in charge have kept under wraps something really special, then the sport is going nowhere and they are trying the patience of every punter who puts money into the pockets of the clubs.
The riders don’t really give a toss as they will look to ride in Europe or walk away and earn a living elsewhere. It is not just an Ipswich issue it is a problem for speedway UK and the lack of updates in any shape or form from the body that allegedly runs the sport is not doing anyone any favours. Still I am sure the promoters think all is rosey in the UK speedway camp. Fools comes to mind.

Edited 18 hours ago by Hawk127
Corrected spelling

[Roger Jacobs]

2 hours ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Or knock it off the asking price.

But what's the asking price?

Effectively, it can only be the cost of buying the licence to promote in the Prem. The new owner has to rebuild from the start: they'll have to pay to rent the track (without income from the food & drink outlets - unless they can agree a %age?); they'll need to generate sponsorship (and agree deals with existing goodwill sponsors); plus the hope that, once a team is announced, the die-hards will return and some new customers can be attracted.

[Youhave2minutes]

1 hour ago, Ray Stadia said:

Speedway has been a car crash forever, but for the last 10 years, it's been a multiple car crash! 

Sounds like a motorway pileup

[Youhave2minutes]

Next signing to be announced will be Jaimon Lidsey

[tyler42]

5 hours ago, Aries said:

New air fence is needed so that’s 20k plus for the new owner right off the bat. Apparently the current air fence shouldn’t have been used last year!

If that's the case, Why were Ipswich allowed to race with last season?

[Aries]

9 hours ago, tyler42 said:

If that's the case, Why were Ipswich allowed to race with last season?

No idea sorry. 

[SPEEDY69]

10 hours ago, tyler42 said:

If that's the case, Why were Ipswich allowed to race with last season?

Common sense maybe.  There haven't been any serious accidents at Foxhall in recent years where the air fence has been a detrimental factor, not to my knowledge anyway.

Edited 5 hours ago by SPEEDY69

[IainB]

Is it a self imposed regulation that air fences need to be replaced after a set amount of time, rather than the actual condition it is in? Or is the shelf life set by the manufacturer?

[Youhave2minutes]

46 minutes ago, IainB said:

Is it a self imposed regulation that air fences need to be replaced after a set amount of time, rather than the actual condition it is in? Or is the shelf life set by the manufacturer?

Another money making racket

[Sir Sidney]

1 hour ago, IainB said:

Is it a self imposed regulation that air fences need to be replaced after a set amount of time, rather than the actual condition it is in? Or is the shelf life set by the manufacturer?

Per the 2025 Regs

05.1.2

Inflatable APD’s must be inspected 7 years after installation, thereafter annually by the SCB Track Inspectors, to certify that it remains fit for purpose up to a maximum of 10 years.

Non-inflatable APD’s will be inspected during the 3 yearly Homologation Inspection.

[Youhave2minutes]

19 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

 

Inflatable APD’s must be inspected 7 years after installation, thereafter annually by the SCB Track Inspectors, to certify that it remains fit for purpose up to a maximum of 10 years.

Does Lovehoney inflatables have same inspection time?

[JamesHarris]

14 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

Whatever the outcome and most hope that Ipswich come to the tapes come March, April or May, generally the sport is unlikely to entice broadcasters to cover the sport live, it has been a disaster the way things have carried on thus far, sponsors probably unwilling to commit without a t v contract, riders dropping the UK, no idea of a fixture list and the sapping interest of the UK punters who are losing the will to get excited with any enthusiasm about the coming season.
You have so few if any new ideas to rejuvenate a dying product and a total lack of general tangible investment in the sport at any level leaves most wondering just how much longer it can it continue in any form other than an amateur part time pursuit by a few enthusiast.
Unless those in charge have kept under wraps something really special, then the sport is going nowhere and they are trying the patience of every punter who puts money into the pockets of the clubs.
The riders don’t really give a toss as they will look to ride in Europe or walk away and earn a living elsewhere. It is not just an Ipswich issue it is a problem for speedway UK and the lack of updates in any shape or form from the body that allegedly runs the sport is not doing anyone any favours. Still I am sure the promoters think all is rosey in the UK speedway camp. Fools comes to mind.

Have TNT committed to the new season? If not I doubt they will now with no fixture list. I'm sure broadcasting schedules have to be planned a few months in advance. This could be the first time since 1998 that no live British League speedway has been shown on TV. If there is no television or media exposure sponsors will not be interested. This is turning into a very sad state of affairs and although I've mentioned it before I do feel this Redknapp thing is a big publicity stunt that nobody cares about. 

[Happy Hunter]

1 hour ago, Youhave2minutes said:

Another money making racket

Even hot water bottles have a use by date!

[mikebv]

25 minutes ago, JamesHarris said:

Have TNT committed to the new season? If not I doubt they will now with no fixture list. I'm sure broadcasting schedules have to be planned a few months in advance. This could be the first time since 1998 that no live British League speedway has been shown on TV. If there is no television or media exposure sponsors will not be interested. This is turning into a very sad state of affairs and although I've mentioned it before I do feel this Redknapp thing is a big publicity stunt that nobody cares about. 

It is a total sh*tshow isnt it?..

But..

Let's be honest..

Anyone who has followed UK Speedway for any decent length of time, are not really surprised in any way shape or form are they?...

Just par for the course...

Edited 2 hours ago by mikebv

[cowboy cookie returns?]

I think we shall hear something later this week or possibly early next week. 😉

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

28 minutes ago, mikebv said:

It is a total sh*tshow isnt it?..

But..

Let's be honest..

Anyone who has followed UK Speedway for any decent length of time, are not really surprised in any way shape or form are they?...

Just par for the course...

I am surprised because when you know and chat to the people involved in the sport they all see the issues and problems and some even have great ideas and solutions but when they get together they seem to suffer group think and those ideas disappear into outer space. Something that always resonates with me was a conversation I had when I was working for Adam skornicki, Adam is a deep thinker about the sport and despite not being credited with it a major influence in the continued polish rider gravy train, anyway I asked Adam why he doesn’t get the top jobs in Poland and he said because all that happens is you become one of them, your ideas are sucked up and spit out and nothing changes and I can’t be that person, is that what happens here? 

Edited 2 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Diamonds85]

32 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

I think we shall hear something later this week or possibly early next week. 😉

Maybe the week after, who knows 😅

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

33 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I am surprised because when you know and chat to the people involved in the sport they all see the issues and problems and some even have great ideas and solutions but when they get together they seem to suffer group think and those ideas disappear into outer space. Something that always resonates with me was a conversation I had when I was working for Adam skornicki, Adam is a deep thinker about the sport and despite not being credited with it a major influence in the continued polish rider gravy train, anyway I asked Adam why he doesn’t get the top jobs in Poland and he said because all that happens is you become one of them, your ideas are sucked up and spit out and nothing changes and I can’t be that person, is that what happens here? 

Not just here in Speedway either

Isn't that very much the way of the world in general at present