By Rob Binns
Jason Doyle is excited to be back in Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches kevlars after missing the majority of last season through injury.
The 2017 World Champion snapped two tendons in his left shoulder and tore his rotator cuff following a crash at King’s Lynn back in May, but he returns for his fourth year with the Witches and no longer feels in pain on the bike.
He said: “I had only done a couple of meetings for Ipswich last year, so it was a no-brainer to be back again. I feel like we’ve got a thing we need to finish off and that is to win the title.
“It’s been a long 10 months, but I think I did it the right way by holding off and not coming back on the bike too soon, I also chose not to ride in Australia to have that little bit of extra time to be 100% fit. The last meetings I’ve done already have felt alright, no pain and I can ride the bike again.
“We started at the start of March so have had pretty much three weeks [on the bike]. We’ve had a lot of practice, a lot of test matches and there’s a few meetings we have to do before the start of the year so we’re looking forward to it.”
The Witches number one was still a regular face in the pits last season offering assistance where he could despite not being able to ride himself, but he admits watching on from the sidelines was a struggle.
“For me, it was very difficult to be in that role, I couldn’t get to as many meetings as I wished. I had to do a fair bit of physio but also, I was away a lot trying to sort some other things out with the injuries. To be part of the team on the outside of the track was difficult to be turning up there and not doing what my normal job would be.”
Doyle’s return is a big boost to Ipswich’s league title chances and the Australian believes the team is more than capable of achieving the ultimate goal.
He said: “The team we have this year if everyone is fit and healthy by the end of the year that will be a big chance for us to win the title. We’re coming in as favourites, the team that Chris (Louis) has put together is amazing. To bring Tom (Brennan) in is a massive bonus for us guys, we saw him when he guested for us last year and he did an amazing job. He wants to win like us boys do and that’s the right mindset to be champions.
“The team we’ve had for the last few years everyone knows their job. We don’t speak a lot in the pits when we’re racing because we already know what we have to do. It’s a job for us but as long as we can have some fun that plays a role in winning the title also. You’ve got the likes of Adam (Ellis) who comes in and cheers everyone up, he’s one of the characters in the team that everyone thrives off having a good time with. There are different aspects besides just turning up and racing and this team has it all.”
Doyle has been given a wildcard for the 2025 Speedway Grand Prix series but is keeping his cards close to his chest about his ambitions for the year.
He said: “There are no real goals that I’d say out loud. I know what I want to be, and I know what I’ve got to do. To win last year’s Warsaw Grand Prix was a thing that’s been sitting in my mind which made me realise that I still can do it, and we’ve got the right engines and equipment this year so hopefully we can again.”