Ipswich Witches 2027

[TTT]

29 minutes ago, Arthur73 said:

We literally picked before Leicester, Belle Vue and Sheffield and got IMO the worst rider of the remaining options. I'd be happy to be proved wrong though.

I don't think any of them will take many points off a Clubs 1-6 tbh, The only one I can see doing something out of the new Rising Stars to the League is Pijper tbh.

What I will say though is that Vinnie did have the highest Away average in the Championship last season when it comes to the Rising Stars from the Clubs that you've mentioned.

Foord 3.50

Hodder 3.05

Loftus 2.63

Ingram 1.45

Edited 19 hours ago by TTT

[Marksman]

30 minutes ago, Arthur73 said:

We literally picked before Leicester, Belle Vue and Sheffield and got IMO the worst rider of the remaining options. I'd be happy to be proved wrong though.

Vinnie is easily the 2nd best rider on that list IMO. He also rode at No.2 for about 90% of his Championship meetings, unlike all the others who rode at the easier reserve spots.

[Aries]

At least he’s ballsy and good to watch. He’ll get stuck in and have a go

[cowboy cookie returns?]

vinnie is a trier who doesn’t give up that’s what we need. He also has floppy Norris in his corner so will be getting some decent advise. 

[Arthur73]

15 hours ago, TTT said:

I don't think any of them will take many points off a Clubs 1-6 tbh, The only one I can see doing something out of the new Rising Stars to the League is Pijper tbh.

What I will say though is that Vinnie did have the highest Away average in the Championship last season when it comes to the Rising Stars from the Clubs that you've mentioned.

Foord 3.50

Hodder 3.05

Loftus 2.63

Ingram 1.45

You've got to also remember that Foord has the worst overall championship average for 2026 of all these riders. Also, the 2nd worst national league average. Loftus and Foord both ride for Edinburgh's NDL team and Loftus has a 1.25 higher average. 

I think his away average actually just highlights that despite being at Workington for 2 years he cannot work out their track. Therefore if he can't work out Ipswich initially we might be really screwed all year.

Loftus just fits too well imo. Edinburgh is a similar track and he's good there, he's had great improvement over the last few years.

Also, Foord has only one year left until he graduates the scheme, realistically only Scott will achieve a 3.50 average. Next year we'd be able to keep Loftus and he'd have a year of experience in the Premiership. This way come what may we have to select a new rising star next year who's likely never been in the premiership.

Sorry for the pile in on one young rider, I just think spending so much on a team and then choosing the wrong rising star is dumb.

[mikebv]

44 minutes ago, Arthur73 said:

You've got to also remember that Foord has the worst overall championship average for 2026 of all these riders. Also, the 2nd worst national league average. Loftus and Foord both ride for Edinburgh's NDL team and Loftus has a 1.25 higher average. 

I think his away average actually just highlights that despite being at Workington for 2 years he cannot work out their track. Therefore if he can't work out Ipswich initially we might be really screwed all year.

Loftus just fits too well imo. Edinburgh is a similar track and he's good there, he's had great improvement over the last few years.

Also, Foord has only one year left until he graduates the scheme, realistically only Scott will achieve a 3.50 average. Next year we'd be able to keep Loftus and he'd have a year of experience in the Premiership. This way come what may we have to select a new rising star next year who's likely never been in the premiership.

Sorry for the pile in on one young rider, I just think spending so much on a team and then choosing the wrong rising star is dumb.

The rising stars won't make much difference to the meeting outcome...

Their two protected races will mostly see them race each other for a point...

If a team loses a meeting it certainly won't be the rising stars fault...

[Pirates Of Poole]

Fantastic team coming together! so who will be the last 2?

Edited 2 hours ago by Pirates Of Poole

[Aries]

1 hour ago, Arthur73 said:

You've got to also remember that Foord has the worst overall championship average for 2026 of all these riders. Also, the 2nd worst national league average. Loftus and Foord both ride for Edinburgh's NDL team and Loftus has a 1.25 higher average. 

I think his away average actually just highlights that despite being at Workington for 2 years he cannot work out their track. Therefore if he can't work out Ipswich initially we might be really screwed all year.

Loftus just fits too well imo. Edinburgh is a similar track and he's good there, he's had great improvement over the last few years.

Also, Foord has only one year left until he graduates the scheme, realistically only Scott will achieve a 3.50 average. Next year we'd be able to keep Loftus and he'd have a year of experience in the Premiership. This way come what may we have to select a new rising star next year who's likely never been in the premiership.

Sorry for the pile in on one young rider, I just think spending so much on a team and then choosing the wrong rising star is dumb.

As ever the devil is in the details. I wouldn’t get too hung up on averages and stats for the rising stars. 
 

this was posted by @M.D In the Championship section

“I think what people are not taking into account with Vinnie is his injury at Redcar in his first meeting of the season.

He was on 4 from 3 and sitting on a paid win in his fourth when he lifted and hit the fence by the starting gate.

It was a far more complex injury than people realise, he came back, as speedway riders do, not fully fit and playing catch up with riders who had been racing for a few months whilst he was out.

He then was in the top 5 for Worky when he returned , a step up when not fully fit and playing catch up with race fitness.

As fitness returned he picked up at the end of the season and whoever gets him next season will see a different rider”.

Edited 2 hours ago by Aries

[SUPERACE]

19 hours ago, Arthur73 said:

So is the rumours that it will be Riss and Nilsson to cap off the team?

Honestly quite disappointed with the Foord signing today, we've gifted Leicester Loftus and honestly I think Hodder is probably better despite Belle Vue having the last choice. 

Im not so sure the pick goes on the order that they say it does, riders have a say where they want to ride, and I think there is more planning that goes into it than a simple 1 to 6 pick on where each team finished. 

[TTT]

2 hours ago, Arthur73 said:

You've got to also remember that Foord has the worst overall championship average for 2026 of all these riders. Also, the 2nd worst national league average. Loftus and Foord both ride for Edinburgh's NDL team and Loftus has a 1.25 higher average. 

I think his away average actually just highlights that despite being at Workington for 2 years he cannot work out their track. Therefore if he can't work out Ipswich initially we might be really screwed all year.

Loftus just fits too well imo. Edinburgh is a similar track and he's good there, he's had great improvement over the last few years.

Also, Foord has only one year left until he graduates the scheme, realistically only Scott will achieve a 3.50 average. Next year we'd be able to keep Loftus and he'd have a year of experience in the Premiership. This way come what may we have to select a new rising star next year who's likely never been in the premiership.

Sorry for the pile in on one young rider, I just think spending so much on a team and then choosing the wrong rising star is dumb.

Apparently Workington got behind in rider payments which would've had an impact like we saw at PREM level with Oxford.

I'd be surprised if this scheme continues into 2028 tbh, They'll be so far out of their depth to a point where nothing positive will come from it imo.

[Aries]

10 minutes ago, TTT said:

Apparently Workington got behind in rider payments which would've had an impact like we saw at PREM level with Oxford.

I'd be surprised if this scheme continues into 2028 tbh, They'll be so far out of their depth to a point where nothing positive will come from it imo.

It has no longevity whatsoever. Even Vinnie admits this is his one and only shot at rising star as he’ll be too old in 2028. Where are all the U21’s going to continue coming from?

 

It’ll have to be modified to U24’s or better still, binned off completely after next year. 

[TTT]

24 minutes ago, Aries said:

It has no longevity whatsoever. Even Vinnie admits this is his one and only shot at rising star as he’ll be too old in 2028. Where are all the U21’s going to continue coming from?

 

It’ll have to be modified to U24’s or better still, binned off completely after next year. 

Agree, Reality will hit the higher ups very early on in 2027.

If young riders end up taking a break from the Sport due to a lack of confidence and finances then the blame lies fully with the higher ups for throwing them into the deep end before they can swim.

[therefused]

17 minutes ago, TTT said:

Agree, Reality will hit the higher ups very early on in 2027.

If young riders end up taking a break from the Sport due to a lack of confidence and finances then the blame lies fully with the higher ups for throwing them into the deep end before they can swim.

The current crop are ok I think, however god forbid a couple of them get injured as there is no one else waiting in the wings