Ipswich Witches 2026

[Aries]

4 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

If Ipswich didn’t have the pick of the rider market , what will the potential Northampton side look like 

Don’t think that’s now going to happen for that very reason. The 360 podcast said a few weeks back that Lawson was one earmarked for Northampton, but we now know he’s ended up at Ipswich instead.

Thats an indication that Northampton isn’t happening. Could be wrong on that obviously.

[mikebv]

4 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

The reluctance to go back to basics  and 1 League (albeit slower standard)is going to kill the sport of completely.

Of course it will...

You know that, I know that, and tens and tens of thousands of fans, who no longer attend, but still closely follow the sport, elsewhere, know that...

The undeniable issue, is that those who are quite happy to run the sport as a hobby, won't ever, for one second, accept that..

Until, of course, their hobby  doesn't exist anymore..

 

 

[Steve Irving]

4 minutes ago, Aries said:

Don’t think that’s now going to happen for that very reason. The 360 podcast said a few weeks back that Lawson was one earmarked for Northampton, but we now know he’s ended up at Ipswich instead.

Thats an indication that Northampton isn’t happening. Could be wrong on that obviously.

And at the risk of repeating myself, this is exactly WHY a current “top league” is only suited to 5 clubs. You’re struggling to get the fifth (Ipswich) team competitive, let alone a 6th! 7th or 8th? Absolutely no chance, forget it. 

[mikebv]

6 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

And at the risk of repeating myself, this is exactly WHY a current “top league” is only suited to 5 clubs. You’re struggling to get the fifth (Ipswich) team competitive, let alone a 6th! 7th or 8th? Absolutely no chance, forget it. 

I have seen on certain FB pages that the sport, to move forward, needs Coventry, Peterborough, Wolves and Swindon back...

Who, it has to be asked, will ride for them?.

Name those 28 riders of sufficient capability..

[TB1]

25 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

If Ipswich didn’t have the pick of the rider market , what will the potential Northampton side look like 

'Potential Northampton side' does that include Lord Lucan and Captain Oates? With Shergar as the mascot?

[Hamish McRaker]

34 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

And at the risk of repeating myself, this is exactly WHY a current “top league” is only suited to 5 clubs. You’re struggling to get the fifth (Ipswich) team competitive, let alone a 6th! 7th or 8th? Absolutely no chance, forget it. 

6 is possible with a level enough playing field on team building limits, stability, a tv deal. 5 is the only feasible number in 2026 with any 6th being a disastrous bust. 7 - no way unless there is a sudden influx of new riders. 

But the way things are going, 6 will become unworkable even with all the conditions in place. Then 5, then 4.

Time to fold things from 2027 and put new foundations in place. 

[Tapewrecker]

One league end of

[Bagpuss]

53 minutes ago, Aries said:

Don’t think that’s now going to happen for that very reason. The 360 podcast said a few weeks back that Lawson was one earmarked for Northampton, but we now know he’s ended up at Ipswich instead.

Thats an indication that Northampton isn’t happening. Could be wrong on that obviously.

Not unusual for riders to agree verbally for one team and then end up signing for another. Hopefully Northampton is happening and Lawson has just been offered something better (could just be certainty) by Ipswich.

[Ben91]

58 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

And at the risk of repeating myself, this is exactly WHY a current “top league” is only suited to 5 clubs. You’re struggling to get the fifth (Ipswich) team competitive, let alone a 6th! 7th or 8th? Absolutely no chance, forget it. 

And a league should comprise no less than eight teams if it wants to be taken seriously. Therefore a top tier isn't viable if only five-ish teams can be put together at the standard this "top" league wants to operate at. 

[kevin bass]

7 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

Not unusual for riders to agree verbally for one team and then end up signing for another. Hopefully Northampton is happening and Lawson has just been offered something better (could just be certainty) by Ipswich.

Like been said who would Northampton have tho, Ipswich obvs couldn't get a genuine No1 if Brennan is their No1, if the rumours are true and riders like Ellis/Becker/Rew are giving the UK a miss then that leaves possibly Wright/Tungate, but after them two god knows.

[Aries]

25 minutes ago, kevin bass said:

Like been said who would Northampton have tho, Ipswich obvs couldn't get a genuine No1 if Brennan is their No1, if the rumours are true and riders like Ellis/Becker/Rew are giving the UK a miss then that leaves possibly Wright/Tungate, but after them two god knows.

Klindt and Iversen two more. But it would be an awful team we all know it. Hiding to nothing.

[M.D]

26 minutes ago, kevin bass said:

Like been said who would Northampton have tho, Ipswich obvs couldn't get a genuine No1 if Brennan is their No1, if the rumours are true and riders like Ellis/Becker/Rew are giving the UK a miss then that leaves possibly Wright/Tungate, but after them two god knows.

`if this had all been sorted much earlier, then the likes of Doyle etc could have signed on.

[Aries]

Just now, M.D said:

`if this had all been sorted much earlier, then the likes of Doyle etc could have signed on.

He would have ridden here no doubt about it. There’s a few others that probably would as well if there wasn’t so much uncertainty and waiting around. Becker, Ellis, Rew a few that spring to mind.

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, Tapewrecker said:

One league end of

Of how many teams? 
and remember, no doubling up and (if teams of seven) meeting only on Monday & Thursday 

[Hawk127]

At this stage and despite the various suggestions put forward by many on here the Ipswich team is yet to be confirmed therefore everything is up in the air until an announcement from the new owners.
Having read the statement released, like many who have commented it is to be commended for the proposals but they have failed to understand the closed shop that runs the sport which is surprising given the amount of information that is available if anyone bothers to trawl through the dross that is in the public domain.

Ipswich coming to the tapes in 2026 is a plaster over what distracts from the real issues that the sport is facing in this country.
List the issues in no particular order, doubling up, rules made up as the season goes on, management of a sport governed by self interest, up and coming riders learning the ropes who think they should earn top dollar, parents backing siblings who feel that overseas riders are taking away from their over rated prodigies, race days determined by overseas schedules, GPs which have lost the charisma and fail to track the best speedway riders in the world but instead pander to a woke selection so that no one feels left out and a sport which in the UK has failed to promote itself to the point where even loyal followers cannot be bothered to regularly attend meetings. Nothing new but the same old mediocrity from the few promoters who over the years have dragged the sport down. 
No forward thinking, electric machines dismissed, failure by the governing body to consider something new in terms of format, a lack of fight by the governing body when it comes to track closures and a bunch of riders who think they should earn from the sport a living for twelve months by screwing the system over a window of six months.

The sport needs a wholesale change in order to move forward but those in charge are gutless individuals who if it is a hobby for them should relinquish their ties and let the sport start over to give it a chance and if that means riders have to be come part time so be it. Change is needed.

 

[Tapewrecker]

10 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

Of how many teams? 
and remember, no doubling up and (if teams of seven) meeting only on Monday & Thursday 

Premiership and championship combined meaning all teams. You cannot run a league with 6 clubs and keep the fans interested. No wonder crowds are low, the whole thing is getting very boring.

[YeOldPitGate]

A sixth team could be supported but it really needs to happen in 2027 give them a year to get prepped build interest locally etc, if the rumours of deep pockets and big sponsors are on the money then maybe Northampton could start 2027 with Becker, Wright, Woofy (maybe), as a top three, so long as the team could win 80% of the time at home that would be a start.

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, Tapewrecker said:

One league end of

Of how many teams? 
and remember, no doubling up and (if teams of seven) meeting only on Monday & Thursday 

[spin king]

Pure guess from me on the Ipswich team.

 

I think that they will go with a very UK looking team.

Brennan

Lawson 

Wright

King 

Tungate

Kerr

Edwards

[IainB]

40 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

Of how many teams? 
and remember, no doubling up and (if teams of seven) meeting only on Monday & Thursday 

Why are you limiting yourself to Monday and Thursday? 14 teams of 5, 6 or 7 riders any night that works for the club. 

And before you come back with where are the riders, I've already quoted some 130 odd that competed in the 2025 season. 

But as the powers that be have decided to cut back on the NDL and even fill those teams with the likes of Simon Lambert and Jake Mulford instead of really developing the youth, I fear that the opportunity may have been missed, 2026 was the season to merge, who's still competing at the end of '26 is anybody's guess. The sport is only heading in one direction currently and that is very sad. 

Edited 1 hour ago by IainB