Ipswich Witches 2026

[cowboy cookie returns?]

59 minutes ago, Spidvej said:

Research....Yes Steve, maybe you should

Why are some British speedway fans suddenly treating Mayfield Sports Events like the saviour of Ipswich Speedway and the entire SGP series when, on paper, they barely exist as a company?

According to Companies House, Mayfield Sports Events Limited was only incorporated on 5 August 2025, as a private limited company with a SIC code of “Other sports activities.”

MAYFIELD SPORTS EVENTS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

 First accounts are not due until May 2027, and there is no visible track record of having ever run a speedway event, let alone a world championship series.  Yet people are talking as if they’re the proven, long‑term guardians of the sport, rather than a brand‑new outfit with the minimum share capital and everything still to prove.

Then look at what’s actually happening with the 2026 Speedway Grand Prix under this new era. The FIM’s regulations for this year’s SGP, as reported in Poland, highlight two key changes: the reintroduction of race jackets (plastrons) and, far more importantly for riders, a reduction in prize money for each SGP round.  The Polish report notes that the prize fund per round drops from 125,000 euro in 2025 to around 90,325 euro in 2026, meaning riders are collectively losing roughly 25–30 percent of the pot per event.  Over a 10‑round season that’s a seven‑figure saving for organisers, not exactly the move of a “saviour” investing heavily in riders and the product.

On top of that, the same piece stresses that “one of the two most important” changes is bringing back race jackets after they disappeared from the world championship a few years ago, with “the second, much more significant for the riders themselves, [being] the reduction in the prize money for each SGP round.”  So not only are we seeing a cut to riders’ earnings, we’re also seeing a step away from full race suits to jackets, which hardly screams modern, premium world championship presentation.

A shocking decision by the organizers of the World Cup. Competitors will lose nearly PLN 1.5 million

And yet there’s another elephant in the room that almost nobody seems willing to talk about: Richard Coleman of Mayfield Sports Events is also going to be acting as Team Principal for the Tech3 MotoGP team, based in the south of France, with over 20 race weekends plus testing and all the other commitments that come with a senior MotoGP role. That’s a massive, year‑round job in itself, involving constant travel, factory work, commercial duties and media.

How exactly is that supposed to sit alongside being the driving force behind the SGP series and supposedly “saving” Ipswich Speedway? Are fans assuming Tech3 owner Günther Steiner is just going to wave Coleman off for SGP commitments whenever there’s a clash, or that both world‑level programmes can be run at full tilt without any conflict of time, focus or accountability?

If people want to hail Mayfield as the future, fine—but at least be honest about what we’re actually looking at: a company incorporated in August 2025 with no public track record in speedway promotion, a significantly reduced prize fund for the 2026 SGP series, cosmetic changes like race jackets being spun as “innovation,” and a key figure who is simultaneously committed to a top‑tier MotoGP role. 

Maybe the real question isn’t “why don’t you trust Mayfield?” but “why are so many people willing to suspend basic scrutiny the moment a new logo turns up and tells them everything will be alright?”

Personally I would have thought having someone who hasn’t any speedway experience is a real bonus. We always moan about the same cartel with the same old ideas running things into the ground. Then when we get some one new to speedway coming along some moan about lack of experience.

In terms of the prize pot if that’s been reduced to a level that makes the go series viable then that’s something that is always demanded on here.

 

[TTT]

Stir the pot theory seeing as a lot of names are being branded today in regards to potential No.1's.

 

Belle Vue haven't announced Brady Kurtz.

A very late U-Turn has happend where a One Rider Over 8.00 Rule has been introduced at PREM level to ensure that Northampton are competitive instead of being the 2025 Oxford Spires due to the amount of money it's cost to get them up and running.

Mayfield Sports have made a late move for Brady Kurtz with Norfolk lad Olly Allen as Team Manager.

Tai Woffinden to Northampton with Pete Adams because it's a shorter distance to travel for Pete and Tai is like a Son to Him.

Belle Vue sign Jaimon Lidsey in a Double Change when upgrading one of Peter Kildemand or Tate Zischke.

 

Nobody is left empty handed and everyone will be competitive.

[IainB]

11 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Personally I would have thought having someone who hasn’t any speedway experience is a real bonus. We always moan about the same cartel with the same old ideas running things into the ground. Then when we get some one new to speedway coming along some moan about lack of experience.

In terms of the prize pot if that’s been reduced to a level that makes the go series viable then that’s something that is always demanded on here.

 

I'm all for giving them a chance and seeing what it is they have to offer but let's not get carried away, as some are, like when WBD entered our sport. 

And the track record of those new to British Speedway seeking to change it from within has always resulted in the same outcome. 

[Steve Irving]

17 minutes ago, IainB said:

I'm all for giving them a chance and seeing what it is they have to offer but let's not get carried away, as some are, like when WBD entered our sport. 

And the track record of those new to British Speedway seeking to change it from within has always resulted in the same outcome. 

You really are one miserable bugger aren’t you? Never known someone to moan, whinge, and see the negative side of just about everything. Glass half empty doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I feel sorry for your significant other.

[Spidvej]

35 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Personally I would have thought having someone who hasn’t any speedway experience is a real bonus. We always moan about the same cartel with the same old ideas running things into the ground. Then when we get some one new to speedway coming along some moan about lack of experience.

In terms of the prize pot if that’s been reduced to a level that makes the go series viable then that’s something that is always demanded on here.

 

New ideas in speedway are always exciting and should be welcomed with open arms.
 

However, chasing grand ambitions without solid capital of your own is a recipe for trouble—Mayfield Sports Events Ltd is banking heavily on sponsorships and others’ money to fuel their big promoter dreams, and that support could evaporate overnight.

The massive contract dangled to Robert Lambert—if he bites—looks unsustainable past June under Mayfield’s shaky model.
 

Lambert, fresh off GP silver and Nations golds, commands top dollar, but without steady revenue, such payrolls spell crisis. Fans deserve stability, not hype built on sand. 

[IainB]

1 minute ago, Steve Irving said:

You really are one miserable bugger aren’t you? Never known someone to moan, whinge, and see the negative side of just about everything. Glass half empty doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I feel sorry for your significant other.

I'm a realist, I don't see why your creaming your pants over a totally unproven, unknown organisation entering our sport.

Your only argument seems to be name calling... I'll add you to the roll of honour 👍🏻

[cowboy cookie returns?]

26 minutes ago, IainB said:

I'm all for giving them a chance and seeing what it is they have to offer but let's not get carried away, as some are, like when WBD entered our sport. 

And the track record of those new to British Speedway seeking to change it from within has always resulted in the same outcome. 

At this late stage Speedway has nothing to lose. They come in do well give the sport a future. They fail & go bust in a couple of years we’ll the way the sport sits today it can’t much more that 2 or 3 years left in it’s current pro semi pro guise anyway.

[IainB]

1 minute ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

At this late stage Speedway has nothing to lose. They come in do well give the sport a future. They fail & go bust in a couple of years we’ll the way the sport sits today it can’t much more that 2 or 3 years left in it’s current pro semi pro guise anyway.

100% 👍🏻

Let's hope it's the former, time will tell, until then I'll curb my enthusiasm 😐

[Teromaafan]

59 minutes ago, TTT said:

Stir the pot theory seeing as a lot of names are being branded today in regards to potential No.1's.

 

Belle Vue haven't announced Brady Kurtz.

A very late U-Turn has happend where a One Rider Over 8.00 Rule has been introduced at PREM level to ensure that Northampton are competitive instead of being the 2025 Oxford Spires due to the amount of money it's cost to get them up and running.

Mayfield Sports have made a late move for Brady Kurtz with Norfolk lad Olly Allen as Team Manager.

Tai Woffinden to Northampton with Pete Adams because it's a shorter distance to travel for Pete and Tai is like a Son to Him.

Belle Vue sign Jaimon Lidsey in a Double Change when upgrading one of Peter Kildemand or Tate Zischke.

 

Nobody is left empty handed and everyone will be competitive.

Where has the one rider over 8 points come from? It can’t be introduced at this stage of a (admittedly ridiculous) pre-season. Now if there was a sudden ‘one ginger’ per team rule introduced, that would be more in line with British speedway credibility and explain why Kurtz hasn’t been named by the Aces.

[Hawk127]

Mayfield Sports or whoever it is who rests control of Ipswich should look at the rich heritage and understand what the club means to the county and the East of England. It is not a commodity and has an intrinsic value built up over the years by a lot of local riders who the supporters can relate to and the likes of sadly the great Billy Sanders and from a continuity perspective the Louis family. Whoever you are you are not buying something like a second hand car and if it does not work you dump it, you are acquiring something special I hope whoever it is you do the right thing and respect what the Witches who mean so many local folk. 

[YeOldPitGate]

3 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

I was having an OK sort of day and you go and show me that!! 

Can't fault Lambo for loyalty to the league and effort but your right with the greatest respect its not like hearing the new owners had managed to get Beau Bailey in at six.

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, Phannan said:

Witches new number 1 if there’s any justice in the world… in the words of Lemar 

Imagine the scenes

[TTT]

3 minutes ago, Teromaafan said:

Where has the one rider over 8 points come from? It can’t be introduced at this stage of a (admittedly ridiculous) pre-season. Now if there was a sudden ‘one ginger’ per team rule introduced, that would be more in line with British speedway credibility and explain why Kurtz hasn’t been named by the Aces.

It's a stir the pot theory.

It wouldn't cause havoc across the League as it only means that Belle Vue will have to use Lidsey instead of Kurtz.

Higher Ups have to do everything to make Northampton as competitive as possible after the money it's cost to get them up and running.

No logic in leaving them looking like the 2025 Oxford Spires as Northampton will need a big name rider to entice fans to turn up.

One has Brady Kurtz and the other has Tai Woffinden and all 6 Clubs have One Rider on a 8.00 GSA.

[bringbackHalifax]

Brady will be at Belle Vue

[YeOldPitGate]

52 minutes ago, Spidvej said:

New ideas in speedway are always exciting and should be welcomed with open arms.
 

However, chasing grand ambitions without solid capital of your own is a recipe for trouble—Mayfield Sports Events Ltd is banking heavily on sponsorships and others’ money to fuel their big promoter dreams, and that support could evaporate overnight.

The massive contract dangled to Robert Lambert—if he bites—looks unsustainable past June under Mayfield’s shaky model.
 

Lambert, fresh off GP silver and Nations golds, commands top dollar, but without steady revenue, such payrolls spell crisis. Fans deserve stability, not hype built on sand. 

Better call Harry sharpish maybe he can get Sam Fox in for opening night and see if Skybet can come up with a seven figure deal for the league.

[proud panther]

9 hours ago, W9 Lion said:

So some positive news last night at the NSSC event with Jason Edwards. He has met the new owners who have experience in lots of other motorsport classes, the new team manager and said that he thinks with the team that they have they will be challanging for Silverwear again this season. So all sounds positive for Ipswich.

Should make the play offs at least.

[YeOldPitGate]

20 minutes ago, Hawk127 said:

Mayfield Sports or whoever it is who rests control of Ipswich should look at the rich heritage and understand what the club means to the county and the East of England. It is not a commodity and has an intrinsic value built up over the years by a lot of local riders who the supporters can relate to and the likes of sadly the great Billy Sanders and from a continuity perspective the Louis family. Whoever you are you are not buying something like a second hand car and if it does not work you dump it, you are acquiring something special I hope whoever it is you do the right thing and respect what the Witches who mean so many local folk. 

The one thing they have going for them is that Ippo and probably Poole are the two best supported clubs in the UK so the fanbase is there to start with, so long as someone doesn't go crazy on the budget and the team isn't dire you should stand a chance of hopefully making a small profit.

[Teromaafan]

9 minutes ago, Hawk127 said:

Mayfield Sports or whoever it is who rests control of Ipswich should look at the rich heritage and understand what the club means to the county and the East of England. It is not a commodity and has an intrinsic value built up over the years by a lot of local riders who the supporters can relate to and the likes of sadly the great Billy Sanders and from a continuity perspective the Louis family. Whoever you are you are not buying something like a second hand car and if it does not work you dump it, you are acquiring something special I hope whoever it is you do the right thing and respect what the Witches who mean so many local folk. 

With all due respect, whoever buys the club should be seeing it as a business venture with a view to making (hopefully not losing) money. Nostalgia does not unfortunately feature highly in the business world…….Unless of course the buyers are seeking to satisfy an ego like most club owners. In which case, it cannot be considered a business venture.

[Aries]

20 minutes ago, Teromaafan said:

With all due respect, whoever buys the club should be seeing it as a business venture with a view to making (hopefully not losing) money. Nostalgia does not unfortunately feature highly in the business world…….Unless of course the buyers are seeking to satisfy an ego like most club owners. In which case, it cannot be considered a business venture.

No time for sentimentality either. Things change and the world is changing at a rapid pace generally.

Time to move on.