Play off dates ?

[Roger Jacobs]

On 9/3/2026 at 12:21 PM, paulnolan said:

I don't know why it was moved from Monday tbh!

https://northampton-speedway.com/latest-news/dvvanrgyr60osbu2d55g4nvp2lph1y

[Roger Jacobs]

On 9/4/2026 at 3:33 PM, SUPERACE said:

Im hearing Belle Vue might prefer Semi leg 1 at home. 

Banger racing at Foxhall on 19th so, assuming those predictions are accurate, the second Monday would probably suit Ipswich better in terms of track prep.

[Siggytastic]

https://britishspeedway.co.uk/rowe-motor-oil-premiership/premiership-play-offs-update-4/ 

[Aries]

I’m pleased for the management at Ipswich that they’ll have the first leg at home because that will ensure a much better crowd than a second leg with very little hope of progression after a probable thumping at the NSS. That isn’t be defeatist, just realistic.

It’s been a trying first season for them due to the lateness of the takeover so a chance to swell the coffers a little is welcome.

[Rob B]

51 minutes ago, Aries said:

I’m pleased for the management at Ipswich that they’ll have the first leg at home because that will ensure a much better crowd than a second leg with very little hope of progression after a probable thumping at the NSS. That isn’t be defeatist, just realistic.

It’s been a trying first season for them due to the lateness of the takeover so a chance to swell the coffers a little is welcome.

Crazy that Belle Vue have chosen it

Edited 21 hours ago by Rob B

[ouch]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

It’s been a trying first season for them due to the lateness of the takeover so a chance to swell the coffers a little is welcome.

It’s certainly has been a trying season for the witches with just a 4th place finish & a KO cup final. 

Having been use to the last few seasons of success with Jason & Emil steering them to a 4th place finish & a KO cup final in 2023 and a 4th place finish & a KO cup final in 2024 it must be hard for their fans to take this year’s level of mediocrity. 

[Aries]

12 minutes ago, ouch said:

It’s certainly has been a trying season for the witches with just a 4th place finish & a KO cup final. 

Having been use to the last few seasons of success with Jason & Emil steering them to a 4th place finish & a KO cup final in 2023 and a 4th place finish & a KO cup final in 2024 it must be hard for their fans to take this year’s level of mediocrity. 

Excellent.

It’s been flat this year losing not just one, but both hugely popular heatleaders and the crowd level has taken a hit. You knew what I was getting at.

But carry on being a dickhead 🙄

[ouch]

33 minutes ago, Aries said:

Excellent.

It’s been flat this year losing not just one, but both hugely popular heatleaders and the crowd level has taken a hit. You knew what I was getting at.

But carry on being a dickhead 🙄

I’m sure the lads appreciate your take on them this season. I’d imagine they felt quite chipper having pretty much emulated the great teams of 2023/4, but then have you and others telling them it’s been a trying, make do and mend team that fans what to see the back of with the hope for a better year in ‘27. There’s a word for fans like that which you are very aware of - apparently. 

[foreverblue]

8 hours ago, Aries said:

Excellent.

It’s been flat this year losing not just one, but both hugely popular heatleaders and the crowd level has taken a hit. You knew what I was getting at.

But carry on being a dickhead 🙄

I was a little surprised moneybags Belle Vue were able to get Doyle, you would have thought he would have chosen Ipswich if asked.

[YeOldPitGate]

1 hour ago, foreverblue said:

I was a little surprised moneybags Belle Vue were able to get Doyle, you would have thought he would have chosen Ipswich if asked.

This has been commented on previously from memory he asked to come back but it would involve to many changes to fit him back in.

[Aries]

1 hour ago, foreverblue said:

I was a little surprised moneybags Belle Vue were able to get Doyle, you would have thought he would have chosen Ipswich if asked.

 

28 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

This has been commented on previously from memory he asked to come back but it would involve to many changes to fit him back in.

This. There was a vacancy at Belle Vue which meant he slipped in seamlessly as a like for like. 
 

To bring an eight pointer in to Ipswich, that would have involved two changes minimum. 
 

Coleman isn’t going to be an owner that regularly chops and changes and puts riders out of a job and fans are going to have to accept the way he works there. As I’ve said before, if the club is struggling and changes aren’t made, that could end up being annoying for some supporters. 
 

Bangs was an extreme case as he was struggling not just on track, but off it. They gave him as much support as possible but in the end were forced to do something not just for the clubs benefit, but the rider. They didn’t feel great about doing that either I can tell you that. 
 

Maybe their stance will change a little in the future. At the end of the day you have to listen to your supporters as they’re the ones who pay at the gate and keep the club going so if the noise gets loud enough, action will inevitably have to happen. 
 

Plus, Ipswich just can’t compete with the money Belle Vue throw at riders so it was a non starter anyway

😉

Edited 10 hours ago by Aries

[SJA]

All I want is a dry fortnight so the final takes place the following week. If its pushed back by a week I will have to amend my travel plans as I was off to the sun.

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

 

This. There was a vacancy at Belle Vue which meant he slipped in seamlessly as a like for like. 
 

To bring an eight pointer in to Ipswich, that would have involved two changes minimum. 
 

Coleman isn’t going to be an owner that regularly chops and changes and puts riders out of a job and fans are going to have to accept the way he works there. As I’ve said before, if the club is struggling and changes aren’t made, that could end up being annoying for some supporters. 
 

Bangs was an extreme case as he was struggling not just on track, but off it. They gave him as much support as possible but in the end were forced to do something not just for the clubs benefit, but the rider. They didn’t feel great about doing that either I can tell you that. 
 

Maybe their stance will change a little in the future. At the end of the day you have to listen to your supporters as they’re the ones who pay at the gate and keep the club going so if the noise gets loud enough, action will inevitably have to happen. 
 

Plus, Ipswich just can’t compete with the money Belle Vue throw at riders so it was a non starter anyway

😉

Careful....

I can see some stats coming in from "someone" soon, detailing, to the penny, the money paid out to each individual rider, by the Aces and Ipswich...

Probably covering the past five years or so, in an attempt to disprove your theory......

[False dawn]

14 hours ago, Aries said:

I’m pleased for the management at Ipswich that they’ll have the first leg at home because that will ensure a much better crowd than a second leg with very little hope of progression after a probable thumping at the NSS. That isn’t be defeatist, just realistic.

It’s been a trying first season for them due to the lateness of the takeover so a chance to swell the coffers a little is welcome.

I get your logic. But.....

It ain't over till it's over. They do have a thing called rain "occasionally" in Manchester. Who knows what that could do to the result at the NSS. Keep the faith.

[ouch]

32 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Careful....

I can see some stats coming in from "someone" soon, detailing, to the penny, the money paid out to each individual rider, by the Aces and Ipswich...

Probably covering the past five years or so, in an attempt to disprove your theory......

I think it’s common knowledge that signing a rider on a 3.00, 4.00 or even 7.50 average then help in their development is cheaper in the long term than signing two GP standard riders straight off the peg.

Equally the chances of a rider who has ridden at number 1 one season won’t be taking a great dip in wages to be a third heat leader at the team that poached him.

All academic now as Richard is running the show and it no longer the witches way, thankfully. 
 

[TTT]

18 hours ago, Aries said:

I’m pleased for the management at Ipswich that they’ll have the first leg at home because that will ensure a much better crowd than a second leg with very little hope of progression after a probable thumping at the NSS. That isn’t be defeatist, just realistic.

It’s been a trying first season for them due to the lateness of the takeover so a chance to swell the coffers a little is welcome.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I'm a realist and I fully expect us to go down by a minimum of 20 Points around the NSS so having the 2nd Leg at Home would've seen a big drop in attendance imo.

Having the 1st Leg at Home is a blessing financially and maybe it'll also make the SF tie a little more interesting overall.

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, TTT said:

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I'm a realist and I fully expect us to go down by a minimum of 20 Points around the NSS so having the 2nd Leg at Home would've seen a big drop in attendance imo.

Having the 1st Leg at Home is a blessing financially and maybe it'll also make the SF tie a little more interesting overall.

Agreed makes absolute sense barring injuries as you say Ippo have minimal hope so might as well let the club have the first leg , get a decent payday and win by 4-6 on the night.