Ipswich Witches 2026

[Mumsie]

2 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.

From all the old pictures I have seen, riders were much more easily identified in the 'good old days,' with the race jackets being the kit. I would personally have no problem with riders wearing individual kevlars, as the sport hasn't exactly grown since the introduction of team kevlars. 

[ouch]

37 minutes ago, Mumsie said:

From all the old pictures I have seen, riders were much more easily identified in the 'good old days,' with the race jackets being the kit. I would personally have no problem with riders wearing individual kevlars, as the sport hasn't exactly grown since the introduction of team kevlars. 

I’d agree with that and it would no doubt help in speedways much needed aspect of creating personalities, good & bad for fans to engage with. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

3 hours 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.

I agree and this should extend to the mechanics and officials too, optics matter 

[IainB]

3 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I agree and this should extend to the mechanics and officials too, optics matter 

So a no to the new Northampton promoter introducing himself in his tracky bottoms then 😂

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

On 3/28/2026 at 8:49 AM, mikebv said:

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...

 

 

 

But they have investment or bias in a club so nothing will change 

[ouch]

30 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

But they have investment or bias in a club so nothing will change 

I’d say bringing a new club to the fold at considerable expense is a big change. Whether Mark & Rob can continue to build hope for a new era given how those who previously and still sit at the top table behave is debatable. At least one of last years bigwigs has departed the sport so that dilutes the self interest somewhat. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

12 minutes ago, ouch said:

I’d say bringing a new club to the fold at considerable expense is a big change. Whether Mark & Rob can continue to build hope for a new era given how those who previously and still sit at the top table behave is debatable. At least one of last years bigwigs has departed the sport so that dilutes the self interest somewhat. 

I would rather trust that departed bigwig to bring change to the sport than the other 2 and I think when we finally find out why he departed it may well be that he was stopped from bringing change, bringing a new team isn’t change it’s a new club joining a failing system no matter how much its cost or who its cost, n new club is a positive step but until change happens thst club will be in the same boat as the others 

Edited 5 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[ouch]

3 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I would rather trust that departed bigwig to bring change to the sport than the other 2 and I think when we finally find out why he departed it may well be that he was stopped from bringing change, bringing a new team isn’t change it’s a new club joining a failing system no matter how much its cost or who its cost 

It certainly was a failing system and not unexpected given those who sat at  the top table for years. Give the new lads a chance I say. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 minute ago, ouch said:

It certainly was a failing system and not unexpected given those who sat at  the top table for years. Give the new lads a chance I say. 

They got their chance but neither should have it because they already have priority elsewhere 

[ouch]

36 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

They got their chance but neither should have it because they already have priority elsewhere 

Coming from a bloke who has “filled almost every role there is in speedway” during what Backtrack would term the sh*#^show years, I’m not going to listen this constant negativity towards a sport I both love and seek to see improve.

Enjoy your speedway, so long.

[mikebv]

2 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I agree and this should extend to the mechanics and officials too, optics matter 

I don't know...

A 30 something year old, grey, now far too small to cover a gut, Iron Maiden 1992 Tour T shirt, matched with a pair of dirty blue jeans, (also now too small), allows for a surfeit of "arse crack", when bending over and fixing a chain, which always looks professional on the TV... 

 

[mikebv]

2 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

But they have investment or bias in a club so nothing will change 

Listening to Rob Lyon, he was talking the talk, so maybe we have someone open to change and can get it through...

Mark Lemon worked for Adrian Smith, so, I presume, was aligned with Adrian's views on the sport in the UK?...

If so, then he too will see the potential out there, but also know that the current operating model will never deliver that potential, so therefore must change...

The aim of sorting 2027 by the end of June is a start, and hopefully, will get delivered....

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

2 hours ago, ouch said:

Coming from a bloke who has “filled almost every role there is in speedway” during what Backtrack would term the sh*#^show years, I’m not going to listen this constant negativity towards a sport I both love and seek to see improve.

Enjoy your speedway, so long.

Ok that makes no sense or point at all but hey ho I guess they say you have lost the argument when you attack to person 

Edited 2 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

Listening to Rob Lyon, he was talking the talk, so maybe we have someone open to change and can get it through...

Mark Lemon worked for Adrian Smith, so, I presume, was aligned with Adrian's views on the sport in the UK?...

If so, then he too will see the potential out there, but also know that the current operating model will never deliver that potential, so therefore must change...

The aim of sorting 2027 by the end of June is a start, and hopefully, will get delivered....

I’m not knocking the 2 said individuals and their will to improve the product as did the 50 or so forward thinking promoters who went before them, I know there are good people in the sport, my point is they have conflicting  jobs in the sport and therefor they can never be objective so shouldn’t have a job on the board of the sport, I know rob godfrey doesn’t understand the word independent but you do 

Edited 1 hour ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

I don't know...

A 30 something year old, grey, now far too small to cover a gut, Iron Maiden 1992 Tour T shirt, matched with a pair of dirty blue jeans, (also now too small), allows for a surfeit of "arse crack", when bending over and fixing a chain, which always looks professional on the TV... 

 

Think you’re talking about me there in my mechanic days 

[SPEEDY69]

8 hours 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.

I hope you're not assuming I'm one of them?

As for the team, why are the same suits vital? Has it moved the sport forward in the UK? I think that's open very much to debate. 

Fans need to see the personalities of the riders - this can be achieved in many ways of course - Doyle got my attention with his sliding around the stock car track, Cook with his riding style but mainly attitude and antics outside of the races, John Davis/Havelock/Wigg with their leathers and branding, these are things which draw interest and create taking points, not them all wearing the same suit, I really don't get the point of it, they'll be riding for another team next year. The race jacket was enough. 

Why do we need helmet colours these days? The suit and number is enough surely. It's all window dressing for a photo but that doesn't bring fans in, engagement does. 

 

[SPEEDY69]

8 hours ago, Bagpuss said:

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by SPEEDY69

[SPEEDY69]

8 hours ago, Bagpuss said:

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by SPEEDY69
System duplicated it

[Hawk127]

4 hours ago, ouch said:

It certainly was a failing system and not unexpected given those who sat at  the top table for years. Give the new lads a chance I say. 

Unfortunately the set up does not give the new people a chance and it is history repeating itself. So many have tried and failed. Those on this forum have an insular view of where the sport is but if you are and outsider and simply look at what the likes of Chat GPT and other internet reviews of the sport offer as an answer frankly no one will touch speedway with a barge pole. I like you really wish it has a future but everything on line says otherwise.  As to how it is turned around, is anyone’s guess, but hopefully it can be revived and rise up the ranks of being one to watch.

[IainB]

47 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

I hope you're not assuming I'm one of them?

As for the team, why are the same suits vital? Has it moved the sport forward in the UK? I think that's open very much to debate. 

Fans need to see the personalities of the riders - this can be achieved in many ways of course - Doyle got my attention with his sliding around the stock car track, Cook with his riding style but mainly attitude and antics outside of the races, John Davis/Havelock/Wigg with their leathers and branding, these are things which draw interest and create taking points, not them all wearing the same suit, I really don't get the point of it, they'll be riding for another team next year. The race jacket was enough. 

Why do we need helmet colours these days? The suit and number is enough surely. It's all window dressing for a photo but that doesn't bring fans in, engagement does. 

 

I think, in a team sport, a team suit/kit is essential, as it is in all other team sports.

Riders and their personalities are a different matter, when most of them can't even be arsed to come round for a victory lap and a wave at the crowd, a personalised race suit ain't going to save them. 

Too often the race numbers on the riders' backs aren't visible, especially when the number is fashioned from duct tape!

I've, for a few years now, maintained that led lighting should be incorporated onto/into riders bikes for identification purposes, red, blue, white, yellow, cheap and quite effective.