The fixtures for the 2025 ROWE Motor Oil Premiership season have been released, and the Witches start the year with Knockout Cup action in a two-legged tie against Belle Vue in March.
The league campaign begins in early April as we travel to Oxford.
Ipswich face the other six teams in the division four times over the course of the season, twice at home and twice away with the top four at the end of the season qualifying for the play-offs.
The British Semi-Final will take place on 1st May at Leicester with the Final on 12th May at The National Speedway Stadium.
The cut-off for completion of ROWE Motor Oil Premiership fixtures is 5th September, with the rest of the month reserved for the play-offs.
All fixtures are subject to change.
Our full fixture list for the 2025 season can be found here.
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches season tickets for the 2025 season are now on sale.
You can buy your season ticket online, here. Alternatively, you can download a season ticket form here. Season tickets are available to buy until 1st March 2025 and are priced at £275 for Adults and £250 for Concessions, with Grandstand seats priced at £30.
There are three ways to pay. Online via the link provided above, you can visit the stadium on 14th December between 10am-1pm and pay in person or you can post your completed form with a cheque to: Mr M Styles, 7 Penshurst Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8QZ. Please make all cheques payable to: IPSWICH SPEEDWAY PROMOTIONS LTD.
Your season tickets will be issued at the first meeting of the 2025 season and will cover all 12 of our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership league fixtures and the first round of the Knockout Cup. This does not include any semi-finals or finals. However, you will still be able to purchase your tickets for these events at the season ticket gate.
Concession tickets are available to those who held a 2024 concession season ticket or those who are over the age of 65 on or before 15th March 2025. Student (21 & under) applications will require a valid student card and proof of age including passport, driving licence or birth certificate.
Proof of age is required for all first-time concession applicants, this can include a copy of your passport, driving licence or birth certificate. This can be provided when you collect your ticket.
Season tickets are transferable. ID and proof of age will be required for concession tickets not bearing the holder’s name and may not be used to discount an adult admission.
With your season ticket you can claim 10% discount on all Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches clothing at the Track Shop and 10% off your first appointment at Keep Well.
Season Tickets do not include a programme.
Admission prices for the 2025 season will be £24 for adults, £22 for concessions and students (21 & under), £1 for children aged 6-16, whilst children 5 and under go free.
An action-packed schedule of 58 meetings will be making their way to your screens in 2025.
To supplement British Speedway’s official broadcast partners Discovery+/Eurosport, the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership have again agreed to show 18 live meetings on BSN.
These include 14 Premiership league meetings, along with 4 KO Cup including both legs of the Cup final.
The Cab Direct Championship is back for a fourth successive year, with a whopping 40 live meetings.
Similiar to 2024, BSN will broadcast 27 regular season meetings, ALL the Cab Direct Championship play-offs and the BSN Series and KO Cup Grand Finals.
Not forgetting BSN will be the home of Cab Direct Championship Major Events such as the CLRC, Championship Pairs and the British Under-21 Final.
BSN Director Martin Hunter said “2024 was a very successful year for all involved, supported greatly by our superb customers.
“To go into this next season with a very similar providing is brilliant.
“However, we will be doing plenty of work behind the scenes to improve our offering with some new features introduced for 2025 as well as our usual investment into more equipment. We never stop striving to improve what we offer.”
As previously announced, 2025 Season Passes will be frozen at the prices charged in 2024.
Customers are also able to spread the cost of their Season Pass over several months.
Total Season Pass – £28.49 (9 payments)
Premiership Season Pass – £12.99 (8 payments)
Championship Season Pass – £19.49 (9 payments)
Buying as a gift?
BSN offer Gift Cards for each Season Pass. You can have the voucher emailed directly to your recipient on a specific date or use the printable voucher for a more physical touch. Details here: https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk/account/gift
See how the Witches qualify for the end of season play-offs and very narrowly miss out on reaching the Grand Final, although they did again reach the Knockout Cup final.
All the very best action captured from Foxhall and all of the best of the racing away from home!
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches promoter Chris Louis gives his thoughts on the recent British Speedway AGM which saw few changes made ahead of the 2025 season.
“I’m really happy with decisions made, little change was needed, and little change has been made,” said Louis. “I’m happy that we have got the status quo, the same clubs and looking at the teams that have been announced and I know about, it is going to be hugely competitive. I don’t think we will see the weaker teams we saw on occasions last year.
“As a league, it is going to be very entertaining and quite difficult. There are teams that are built quite differently so that will add a bit of intrigue and generally I was pleased with the outcome. Premiership decisions were made very early, way before the AGM so we could go about our business and rubber stamp everything on that front.”
In the BSPL’s post-AGM statement it mentioned a new initiative at Ipswich on the subject of development, and the promoter revealed the plan at Foxhall.
“There’s a bit of work to be done which is why there was no detail in the initial press statement from BSPL, but we’re looking to run an under-19 individual event along the lines of a Grand Prix meeting. It’s all about giving the British youngsters the experience of a big meeting, everything is to be confirmed at the moment, but we’re hoping that Great Britain Speedway will be present to do a bit of a presentation to the young lads and we will have our own senior riders involved to help them with track walk and advice.
“Again, to be confirmed, we’re hoping that BSN will have an involvement so that they can learn a little bit about talking to the media, pre, during and post event. It’s just to give them a whole experience that they don’t ordinarily get, and all the prizes will be based around helping them and equipment and stuff for speedway. Ultimately, the prize for winning is a sort of a scholarship with Ipswich to give them a hand with advice from riders and mechanics. A one-on-one training session and that sort of thing, so it’s really exciting. It’s still in the planning stage but as soon as we’ve got all the definite details, we’ll obviously be putting it out there.
“It’s something that I would like to develop. I would like to trial it at Ipswich and then develop it further as we go in coming years because the youngsters are the future of the sport and, to be honest, it’s where the sport at the moment is failing. That is the only word you can use, and a lot needs to be done.”
Louis says that building the Ipswich side for the new season was easy and hopes to see Keynan Rew back in Suffolk in the future.
“Team building was actually very easy. There’s a definite feeling I’m getting from the team that there’s unfinished business from last year and they all wanted to come back and complete the job. So, I don’t think you can get a better grounding for a team coming into a season than that.
“I’m quite excited to be going back into battle with the same guys. Obviously, Keynan is one change, for his reasons mostly, which is fine and it’s certainly not closing the door on his Ipswich career. I like to think we gave him his chance and helped his first couple of years development, and he did make big improvements last year. I certainly don’t see that as the end of his Ipswich days that’s for sure.”
The former captain also confirmed that changes to the track at Foxhall will take place this winter to improve the banking.
“We’ve got the go ahead and it’s something that we wanted to do last winter. It wasn’t given the go ahead locally but we’ve changed how we’re going to do it which is more favourable, and we’ve got the go ahead to crack on with that.
“We’re going to wait for the last car event, which is at the end of this month, so that is very soon now. We’ll start digging into the ground and we’re effectively lowering the inside of the track, so that we can improve the banking all the way out which will make a huge difference to the racing.
“It will entice riders to race more and will certainly give us better entertainment and I think it’ll be a little safer as well. So, I’m happy to be doing that.”
The club hope to communicate news on 2025 Season Tickets in the coming weeks.
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches will face ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Belle Vue in the quarter-final of the Knockout Cup.
Having won the competition in 2023, the Witches finished as runners-up in 2024 as an injury-hit side were beaten by Sheffield in the final. The draw for 2025 couldn’t get any tougher for Ritchie Hawkins’ side with a two-legged clash against the Aces.
The other quarter-finals feature Birmingham against Leicester whilst Championship champions Poole face Sheffield having been invited into the 2025 competition. Oxford take part in the Knockout Cup next season having opted out in 2024 and face King’s Lynn.
The Brummies or the Lions will face the winners of the Pirates/Tigers tie in the last four, with the Stars or Spires taking on the winners of the Aces/Witches encounter.
PREMIERSHIP KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER-FINALS Birmingham v Leicester
Poole v Sheffield
King’s Lynn v Oxford
Belle Vue v Ipswich
PREMIERSHIP KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINALS Birmingham/Leicester v Poole/Sheffield
BRITISH Speedway Promoters’ Ltd is pleased to confirm all clubs will return to contest the 2025 season.
The sport’s AGM has been completed where rules, regulations and arrangements for next year have been finalised.
2025 will see the return of a British Semi-Final, which will take place at Leicester, offering the on-track opportunity for riders to qualify for the British Final at Belle Vue. Dates for those events are to be confirmed.
Both the Premiership and Championship will enjoy stability of membership, with no changes to competing teams, and all of the existing competitions taking place once again.
However, an exciting addition to the Premiership Knockout Cup is the inclusion of Championship winners Poole along with all seven regular top-flight clubs.
Meanwhile, the sport is set to build on its commitment to youth development with a potential extension to the National Development League, due to entries from new teams, which is likely to result in an increased number of fixtures for the riders.
A new initiative is also planned from Ipswich on the subject of development, and the club will reveal full details in due course.
During the AGM significant talks were also held regarding the future of the sport over the coming years. We will be providing more updates on the various initiatives and developments during the winter.
BSPL Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “I’m really pleased that all the clubs have come back to the table, and we have consistency in terms of fixtures and competitions.
“We spoke last year about the importance of Youth development so it’s pleasing to see that looks like being extended, and certainly Ipswich are going above and beyond with what they’re planning.
“There is plenty to look forward to next season but also a great deal of work going on further down the line, and we’re all positive about what’s to come.”
Points limit: 40 (for the top six) plus Rising Star.
Knockout Cup draw: Birmingham v Leicester, Poole v Sheffield, King’s Lynn v Oxford, Belle Vue v Ipswich. Ties to be raced in the same week. Semi-finals: Birmingham/Leicester v Poole/Sheffield, King’s Lynn/Oxford v Belle Vue/Ipswich.
It can also be confirmed that King’s Lynn have switched their regular race-night to Monday, which provides assistance in terms of fixture planning and evens out the schedule between Mondays and Thursdays.
Premiership CEO Phil Morris said: “I’m pleased we have strength and continuity in terms of keeping the same points limit, along with the Rising Stars, and the same competing clubs, and we felt there was no need to make change for change’s sake.
“The points limit itself was agreed over a month ago, following several meetings leading up to the AGM, and it’s pleasing that we’re also looking at rule changes and improvements for 2026, so we are trying to look a year in advance.
“In terms of fixture planning, we are looking into doing more Bank Holiday double-headers, and all clubs have discussed which others they can work with in terms of reasonable distances to travel.
“It’s good to have all the teams in the Knockout Cup, including Oxford this time, and we felt it would be great to have eight clubs competing with no byes, so Poole were invited in as Championship champions, and they accepted.
“They will be given a concession to build to Premiership level whilst keeping the majority of their team, and should there be any rider clash, the Premiership team would take priority.”
BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Following the success of this season’s event at Leicester, this meeting will once again take place at Beaumont Park in 2025, running in conjunction with a round of the British Youth Championship.
TESTIMONIALS: Four riders have been granted Testimonial Meetings in respect of their long service to British Speedway. Those riders are: Ryan Douglas, Jason Doyle, Nicolai Klindt and Tai Woffinden.
REFEREES: It has been highlighted that the increase in live transmission of meetings in the UK (TV and streaming) has put referees under the spotlight more than ever before. The SCB made a presentation to the members of the BSP Ltd, whereby continued work with the Association of Referees will take place to assist the referees, and to try and help improve the sport in all areas.
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches complete their 2025 team with the signing of Tom Brennan.
The former British Under-21 champion guested for the club in 2024 and is hoping a permanent move to Suffolk will help his career develop further.
“I was really fortunate to finish off the 2024 season with Ipswich which gave me a really good feel for the club and how they ran the club. From that point onwards I knew where I wanted to be, and it was a matter of just trying to confirm that. Ipswich is one of the most professional clubs in the league and it suits my style. I take my racing seriously and I want to be going to a club that can improve and hopefully I can push on with the team. The team is another big thing with Emil (Sayfutdinov) and (Jason) Doyle there, so the reason it is this year is I want to kick on my career, and I believe Ipswich above any team can give me that.”
The 23-year-old says the Foxhall track feels like home to him already having grown up on a smaller, more technical track.
“Foxhall is a very technical track, I grew up at Eastbourne which is also very technical. When I go there it feels like home and it is good going to a club where you can ride good. Obviously, you want to sign for a club where you go well at the track, and I am really looking forward to next year. It has been a long time coming and by the looks of things the team is going to be strong too.”
The Great Britain international has enjoyed a rapid rise in the sport having been a Rising Star just three years ago.
“We have progressed very quickly but at my own pace too and haven’t taken chances that we didn’t need to take. My first year was 2021 and that was my first year of proper, professional racing and from that point onwards I graduated from the Rising Star scheme fairly quickly which was fantastic. From there it has been an upward slope, maybe it plateaued a bit in 2023, we didn’t progress a whole bunch that year but sometimes that happens. The key has been having a support system around me, my family, my sponsors, they keep me on track. We’ve been on an upwards slope, and we don’t want that to stop now, and Ipswich can help me with that.”
Like his teammates, the Speedway of Nations gold medallist’s target in 2025 is winning the league with the Witches.
“The league title is the end goal, lifting the trophy with Ipswich would be unbelievable especially getting a bit of insight into what they did in 2024. They lost Doyley and Emil which were two huge losses and also had other problems with (Jordan) Jenkins unable ride as well. The end of the season did not reflect what Ipswich can do so it will be nice to come back and be part of the team and help them lift that trophy.”
Brennan might just be one of the busiest riders in the world over the winter with trips to Australia and America on the horizon.
“It is a busy winter; we are building bikes as we speak, and I would like to get that done this month as I leave for Australia on 8th December roughly. I go there for a month and a bit before returning in the middle of January and then I go to America at the end of January for a couple of weeks. I’ll be back in the middle of February and before you know it, it will be time to go again! We are trying to keep the ball rolling; speedway is my ultimate aim, and I am always looking to improve, and you can’t be chilling out too much. We want to go at a nice leisurely pace and Australia offers that opportunity for me to race as does America.”
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches welcome back Grand Prix rider Jason Doyle for the new season.
The Australian had no hesitations about a return to Foxhall in 2025 and is looking to win that elusive league title for the club.
“It was a pretty simple decision; obviously other clubs speak to you, but I don’t want leave any stone unturned. After two and a half years, I classify last year as a half-term with the club, we need to push on. The team that we have got for next year, I feel like we have got a chance to finally get that league trophy.”
The world number 13 had his 2024 season cut short in May after suffering two snapped tendons in his shoulder, a torn rotator cuff, four broken ribs and a lung contusion following a crash at King’s Lynn but is back to full fitness ahead of the new campaign.
“I have been quite lucky with the team I have been working with in England. I had the operation in the middle of June, and it has been a rollercoaster to get back to full fitness. As many people know with shoulder injuries, one minute you are ok and the next you are back to square one. At the moment it is really good, and I feel back to 100%.
“I wasn’t ready a month ago, but I am now, it is good that I didn’t rush anything and did everything the right way, the way the doctors said. If it was a broken bone, I would have been back pretty much straight away but when you know you are going to be unsafe on the bike, you need to do the right thing and make sure everything is 100%. I have got a few more years left to push for that top spot and a lot more racing to do with Ipswich.
“Normally I crash at the end of the season, so I get the four or five months off! It was nice to experience the family side with my baby girl Grace which I haven’t done in so many years. I got to do a lot of things outside of speedway, go on holidays to Spain a couple of times and relax a bit as I tried to get back to 100%. At the moment I am lucky to have the right people around me and feel like it is all getting better.”
The 2017 world champion has been given a wild card for the 2025 Speedway Grand Prix series but admits he was worried about his place for next year.
“It was nerve wracking watching the GP qualifier and seeing there was already three Aussies going into the Grand Prix. I’m lucky I won the Warsaw Grand Prix and was up there in the top three in the world before I got injured. I showed a lot of pace and drive to be world number one again. There were a few things I needed to make sure were right before going back in the Grand Prix again, but I am ready to go.”
Doyle is heading back to Australia this winter but won’t be riding down under.
“I am going back for four weeks before coming back. I am not going to race anymore; I was going to go over and do a couple of meetings, but the meetings got cancelled. I was only going to go out for the meetings in Mildura and Adelaide. It is a lot of hassle to bring bikes and equipment back for two meetings and the cost is expensive with the changing of flights and stuff. So, I will just come back here and get ready for the new year and by February I will be back on a bike again.”
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches confirm the signing of Adam Ellis for the 2025 season.
Ellis returned to Suffolk in 2024, having spent time at Foxhall in 2013 and 2014 at the start of his career and says the family-feel of the club makes it an enjoyable place to ride.
“I’m happy to be back and wanted to be from the beginning and I’m looking forward to it. Not much has changed since when I first was with the club, Chris (Louis) and Ritchie (Hawkins) have both got a bit older though! It’s like a family here, everyone gets on really well which makes it nice coming to Ipswich every week. For me, it was a no-brainer, and I think that was the same for many of the other guys in the team next year. We get on well so hopefully we can hit the ground running early on, avoid injuries and finish what we started last year.”
The 28-year-old is hoping the side can keep a clean bill of health in 2025 and is relishing having Foxhall as him home track again next year.
“2024 was up and down but if we had kept the same one to seven as we had at the start of the year until the end, I can’t see how anyone would have beaten us. Next year is going to be pretty much the same again so hopefully we can all stay injury free and have a good year.
“I think everyone hates the track apart from me, so that helps! It is a track I like, and I have always enjoyed coming here. I enjoyed every aspect of last year so hopefully it will be the same again next year.”
The 2021 British champion rode with team manager Ritchie Hawkins at Ipswich at the start of his career with the pair now enjoying a new relationship.
“We don’t crash as much as when I first met him! Everyone knows what Ritchie is like, he does not beat around the bush, if he is happy with you, he will tell you, if he is not happy with you, he will tell you! He is easy to work for.”
Ellis is targeting league success next season with Ipswich but is looking forward to some well-earned rest before preparations begin for the new season.
“It is a team sport, you have your own goals personally, but the main goal is to try and win the league. We have got the team to do that, other teams will be strong as well so it won’t be easy but if we stay fit then we should be up there.
“I will have a few weeks of rest before getting stuff ready for next year. There is a lot that goes into it, and it comes around quicker than you expect, it takes a lot of organising and planning, so it is good to put your feet up before it all kicks off again.”
