Ipswich Witches 2026

[Racin Jason 72]

Having gone to meet the riders and having heard from the new promoters I have to say my first impression is that I think the club is in very good hands. Chris Louis had really pushed the club to new professionalism levels and commercial success. He and Julie deserve a lot of credit and I thank them both for their efforts 

Richard Coleman spoke very openly and honestly and he is definitely a very strong leader with a clear vision. He believes like most fans that the way forward is for an independent ruling body to stop the self interest ruining the sport. 
it’s going to be a very interesting seeing how the top table deal with this breath of fresh air. 

[mikebv]

25 minutes ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

Having gone to meet the riders and having heard from the new promoters I have to say my first impression is that I think the club is in very good hands. Chris Louis had really pushed the club to new professionalism levels and commercial success. He and Julie deserve a lot of credit and I thank them both for their efforts 

Richard Coleman spoke very openly and honestly and he is definitely a very strong leader with a clear vision. He believes like most fans that the way forward is for an independent ruling body to stop the self interest ruining the sport. 
it’s going to be a very interesting seeing how the top table deal with this breath of fresh air. 

Like they have with others with a similar outlook?

The 360 podcast with Rob Lyon was interesting in so much that he outlined many of the issues that the promoters wanted to tackle and most of them were regular issues brought up on here...

Therefore, maybe with the him and Mark Lemon now directors, there is now actually a recognition that there is a need for change, but, as well, also the desire to make those changes to move the sport forward...

 

 

 

[Aries]

 

[Steve Irving]

1 hour ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

Having gone to meet the riders and having heard from the new promoters I have to say my first impression is that I think the club is in very good hands. Chris Louis had really pushed the club to new professionalism levels and commercial success. He and Julie deserve a lot of credit and I thank them both for their efforts 

Richard Coleman spoke very openly and honestly and he is definitely a very strong leader with a clear vision. He believes like most fans that the way forward is for an independent ruling body to stop the self interest ruining the sport. 
it’s going to be a very interesting seeing how the top table deal with this breath of fresh air. 

I’d say Coleman has already pi$$ed them off and been ostracised. Three clubs held their press and practice Thursday..

 

[mikebv]

46 minutes ago, Aries said:

 

"Say to say"???

Olde East Anglian dialect???

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

 

Safe to say?

[PersonalResponsibility]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

Safe to say?

Not safe for them to say

[Neila]

Is it correct that Richard Lawson had no bikes at p+p ?

[IainB]

23 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

Not safe for them to say

Hate to say?

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

4 hours ago, Aries said:

 

Are they trying to attract a new gay fan base ? 

[BluPanther]

20 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Are they trying to attract a new gay fan base ? 

What wrong with the old gay fan base ? 😉

[arnieg]

20 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Are they trying to attract a new gay fan base ? 

It's those 'Heated Rivalry' vibes

Edited 3 hours ago by arnieg

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

31 minutes ago, BluPanther said:

What wrong with the old gay fan base ? 😉

They have all died or stop going 

[Racin Jason 72]

3 hours ago, Neila said:

Is it correct that Richard Lawson had no bikes at p+p ?

He attended the morning photo shoot but wasn’t available for the practice or meet the riders event in the evening 

[ShanoXtra]

10 hours ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

Having gone to meet the riders and having heard from the new promoters I have to say my first impression is that I think the club is in very good hands. Chris Louis had really pushed the club to new professionalism levels and commercial success. He and Julie deserve a lot of credit and I thank them both for their efforts 

Richard Coleman spoke very openly and honestly and he is definitely a very strong leader with a clear vision. He believes like most fans that the way forward is for an independent ruling body to stop the self interest ruining the sport. 
it’s going to be a very interesting seeing how the top table deal with this breath of fresh air. 

He indeed spoke very well, and was very professional, you can see that he is a level up from everyone else within the speedway community, very open about how people within speedway are only interested in what is good for themselves and not what’s right for the sport, I liked the change regarding FIM points system next year and his input into that! I was impressed with most of what he had to say, even touching on Grand Prix in GB vs in Europe and the amount of issues this country causes in terms of costs and putting on events.

[Aries]

And they’re already working on the team for ‘27, almost certainly will be a big hitter at 1..

[SPEEDY69]

On 3/27/2026 at 11:18 AM, Bagpuss said:

As in a patchwork quilt of different racesuits with race jackets? Would be a massive backward step IMO.

Yep, much preferred those days, it added personality. I don't need them in the same suit to differentiate the teams. It's an added expense for the club and hasn't brought more people into the sport or gained any more media interest in my view. 

Edited 3 hours ago by SPEEDY69

[Aries]

 

[Bagpuss]

1 hour ago, SPEEDY69 said:

Yep, much preferred those days, it added personality. I don't need them in the same suit to differentiate the teams. It's an added expense for the club and hasn't brought more people into the sport or gained any more media interest in my view. 

While I respect the views of the 'good old days' brigade I think we are way past the point where random bikes and kevlars for team mates are acceptable or appropriate for our sport or any other which claims to be professional. British speedway gets plenty of things wrong but the correct team image is vital with social media, live streaming/TV and merchandise sales etc. Can't think of any other team sport where a side looks like waifs and strays and doesn't all wear the same kit.

[norbold]

12 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

While I respect the views of the 'good old days' brigade I think we are way past the point where random bikes and kevlars for team mates are acceptable or appropriate for our sport or any other which claims to be professional. British speedway gets plenty of things wrong but the correct team image is vital with social media, live streaming/TV and merchandise sales etc. Can't think of any other team sport where a side looks like waifs and strays and doesn't all wear the same kit.

It depends what you call the 'good old days' because to me the 'good old days' were exactly the days when every team member did wear the team colours - black leathers and a team race jacket. Well I say every team member wore black leathers but there was always the odd maverick such as Nigel Boocock and Mike Broadbanks (as he was then!)