Ipswich Witches 2026

[TTT]

Should get something today surely considering it was signing on night yesterday.

[Tapewrecker]

Was it open to the public or behind closed doors

[mikebv]

2 hours ago, Gambo said:

...."Promoters can also decide to ride in whatever league can make them the most profit, given the lack of any decent prize money or publicity for winning either, so, once again, are quire content to keep things as they are..."

I don't think that is true as I believe the CL promoters refused the application of at least one PL club during the winter.

They couldn't afford less Prem teams as then there would be too many riders not able to DU....

At thst time. With Ipswich being possibly not running, and Northampton still a twinkle in some promoters' eye, they simply couldn't afford another Prem team to drop...

With only four Prem teams you would pretty much be at the point when one league would be the only realistic outcome, as those four surely couldn't go it alone...

And one league means DU'ing is dead....

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

It still all about Self Interest in the Sport.The sport will not progress while it is an expensive hobby for some Promoters.

It needs to be on free to air mainstream TV, which then (might), engage some of the old followers to attend, and ignite some interest from the millions, within 45 mins of many tracks, who literally don't know the sport exists...

And free to air mainstream TV may also get some "new money" sponsors into the sport, rather than "in house" sponsorship which  doesn't move the sport forward...

However. Some "proper cash injection" would need to be met with an agreement to run the sport authentically from a team aspect though, and, given so many "hobbyists" are involved, that may be a big barrier to overcome...

[IainB]

32 minutes ago, mikebv said:

And one league means DU'ing is dead....

It should, but you're forgetting... this is Speedway 😂

[mikebv]

1 minute ago, IainB said:

It should, but you're forgetting... this is Speedway 😂

Winners always find a way.....

[Diamonds85]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Should get something today surely considering it was signing on night yesterday.

Don't hold your breath... we've been waiting for news everyday for the last 3 months 🤣 I'm sure everything is fine but who knows when we're actually gonna find out

[Sir Sidney]

3 hours ago, TTT said:

Should get something today surely considering it was signing on night yesterday.

Has anyone confirmed that it actually went ahead? 

[hammer1969]

20 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Has anyone confirmed that it actually went ahead? 

Either the track staff are all sworn to silence OR they are all as peed off with the deafening silence as we fans are and no one turned up.  I'm already making other plans for where to spend my money on Thursday nights other than Foxhall Stadium, somewhere they will appreciate my custom and my money.  It seems to me us loyal Ipswich fans don't matter any more.  Even a short statement with the current position would be better than nothing

[chun]

didnt they say an update would be made this week?  its only Wednesday.

[IainB]

19 minutes ago, hammer1969 said:

Either the track staff are all sworn to silence OR they are all as peed off with the deafening silence as we fans are and no one turned up.  I'm already making other plans for where to spend my money on Thursday nights other than Foxhall Stadium, somewhere they will appreciate my custom and my money.  It seems to me us loyal Ipswich fans don't matter any more.  Even a short statement with the current position would be better than nothing

It did say an update would be given this week. I hope Mayfield do a better job at promoting the SGP series as they seem almost ashamed/embarrassed to be associated with the Witches!

Edited 2 hours ago by IainB

[TTT]

59 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Has anyone confirmed that it actually went ahead? 

Who knows anything at this point.

[Teromaafan]

19 minutes ago, chun said:

didnt they say an update would be made this week?  its only Wednesday.

Hmm.....maybe it was a typo in the press release, perhaps they meant this year?....its only February!

[TTT]

43 minutes ago, hammer1969 said:

Either the track staff are all sworn to silence OR they are all as peed off with the deafening silence as we fans are and no one turned up.  I'm already making other plans for where to spend my money on Thursday nights other than Foxhall Stadium, somewhere they will appreciate my custom and my money.  It seems to me us loyal Ipswich fans don't matter any more.  Even a short statement with the current position would be better than nothing

I don't blame any fan who decides to walk away after this fiasco tbh.

I've tried to remain as positive as I could on the topic this winter but I can fully understand where the majority of fans are coming from.

Edited 1 hour ago by TTT

[gjcone44]

4 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

People need to remember this when looking to lambast the Premiership for the ongoing situation 

Other options that may have been put forward were dismissed as the Championship wanted nothing other than the status quo

well they are both going to destroy their own product.

[Roger Jacobs]

4 hours ago, Tapewrecker said:

Was it open to the public or behind closed doors

You can't really have a behind closed doors signing-on night - they need members of the public to volunteer so, in theory, anyone could have gone if they wanted to.

i'm completely fed up. There's more to life than wondering even if there will still be speedway, let alone who will be riding.  No attempt at a publicity splash or big reveals will make the slightest bit of difference now.

[chun]

What makes it worse is that you tend to look forward to spring through winter, and associate it with the start of the speedway season...

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Speedway deserves better than this, it’s a shambles and nobody can defend anyone involved 

[Hawk127]

12 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Speedway deserves better than this, it’s a shambles and nobody can defend anyone involved 

The sad thing is that nothing ever changes and it is business as usual for those running the sport. Even those fans looking at the Championship fixtures are moaning so it is a case of as you were all round.

Do think anyone would listen/take notice of the paying punters if collectively supporters boycotted just one home meeting to make a point and leave the riders performing in front of empty terraces?

Another point which comes to mind, if Mayfield have taken over Ipswich, will they have to wait a few years before they are allowed to sit at the top table?

Oh well just sit back and wait for the moans from promoters about the lack of support and enthusiasm from the punters and the repeated threats of closure. All part of the speedway business model.

[Phannan]

Us fans are just customers to them at the end of the day . Same as football really. Although the powers that be in football know they can treat them that way as they know they will keep turning up week in week out. The Glazers at United being a prime example. The powers that be in speedway don’t have that luxury . They’re signing the death warrant to the sport. They’re doing nothing to try and promote a bright future and the dwindling crowd numbers will continue to prove this until the sport disappears for good.