Author Archives: Henry Chard

About Henry Chard

Press Officer at Ipswich Speedway

RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (H)

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The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Belle Vue Aces at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 27th March in a Knockout Cup quarter-final second leg fixture. Parade: 7.30pm, first race: 7:45pm.

LINE-UPS

IPSWICH: 1. Jason Doyle 9.36 2. Danny King © 6.14 3. Adam Ellis 5.47 4. Tom Brennan 6.52 5. Emil Sayfutdinov 9.12 6. Dan Thompson 3.11 7. Jordan Jenkins (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

BELLE VUE: 1. Brady Kurtz © 9.18 2. Norick Blödorn 5.40 3. Jaimon Lidsey 6.58 4. Zach Cook 5.57 5. Dan Bewley 8.52 6. Tate Zischke 4.57 7. Jake Mulford (RS). Team Manager: Mark Lemon

REFEREE: P. Carrington

KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW

QUARTER-FINALS: Leicester (57) v (33) Birmingham, Oxford (37) v (53) King’s Lynn, Ipswich (50) v (40) Belle Vue.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are available to purchase in advance here and on the gate and are priced at £24 for adults and £22 for concessions (65+) & students (21 & under). Tickets for children aged 6-16 are £1 whilst children 5 & under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3.50 and are available at the stadium. Car parking is free for all supporters. Debit and credit card payments are accepted. Turnstiles open at 6.40pm.

THE PREVIEW

The Witches race their first fixture at Foxhall in 2025 as they welcome the Belle Vue Aces to Suffolk on Thursday night for the second leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final tie.

The two sides met on Monday in Manchester in the first leg with Ipswich storming to an impressive 50-40 win, their first ever victory at the National Speedway Stadium. That performance puts the Witches in control of the tie and heavy favourites to progress to the semi-final, but team manager Ritchie Hawkins knows his side must remain focused to finish off the job.

It is the same line-up and riding order for the home team as it was in the first leg with Tom Brennan making his full home debut in Ipswich colours following his winter move to the club.

An early Knockout Cup tie to start the season against the league champions was as tough an opening as it could have got but having won the away leg, Ipswich will be determined to seal their spot in the semi-finals in front of their home supporters, as they look to regain the trophy they won in 2023.  

MANAGER’S NOTES

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…

“We are really looking forward to getting back to Foxhall. We had a great couple of days last week practicing and catching up with everyone again. Now it is time for the real business to start. The track was awesome last week, and you can really see the effort, Bob (Ellis) and Chris (Louis) and all the track staff have put in over the winter to improve it. I’m sure it will provide a great racetrack, and we have got some great racers here on Thursday.

“It is Tom’s home debut but obviously he has guested for us before and put in some great performances over the last few years. I know he is very excited to be part of the Witches and I’m sure it won’t take him long to settle in as he knows the place really well.

“Opening nights can be tricky and it is always nice to get an away meeting in first which we have done. We navigated that in superb fashion and whilst we come into the meeting very confident of progressing to the next round, we also know that Belle Vue are the league champions and are a strong side. They will be coming determined to return the favour and we will need to be on top of our game to progress.”

BELLE VUE ACES

Opening night for the league champions did not go as planned for the Aces. Belle Vue were formidable on home shale in 2024, losing just once all season. So, that defeat on Monday to an Ipswich side that had never previously won at the National Speedway Stadium will have hurt. The visitors will be determined to stay in the Knockout Cup having exited the competition at the first hurdle in the last two campaigns but know they have a mountain to climb to overturn the 10-point deficit.

Belle Vue line up the same as they did on Monday and are hopeful Norick Blödorn is fit enough to take his place in the side after withdrawing from the first leg following a crash in his third ride. The away team field two Grand Prix riders in their ranks, with captain Brady Kurtz at one and Dan Bewley at number five.  

LAST TIME WE MET IN SUFFOLK

The Witches last faced the Aces at Foxhall in August of 2024, and it was the Aces who ran out 41-49 winners on the night against the depleted hosts. Ipswich were without Jason Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov and Adam Ellis and then found themselves without Keynan Rew after an early crash. The five-man Witches battled hard with guest Scott Nicholls scoring 15+1 but the visitors took the points with Bewley top scoring with 11+1. 

RACEDAY REPORT | BELLE VUE 40-50 IPSWICH

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Image courtesy of Ian Charles

By Stephen Waller

SCORECARD

BELLE VUE 40:  Brady Kurtz © 12, Norick Blödorn 0 (Withdrawn), Jaimon Lidsey 5, Zach Cook 3, Dan Bewley 13+1, Tate Zischke 5+1, Jake Mulford (RS) 2. Team Manager: Mark Lemon

IPSWICH 50: Jason Doyle 9+1, Danny King © 8+2, Adam Ellis 5+1, Tom Brennan 8, Emil Sayfutdinov 7+1, Dan Thompson 8+2, Jordan Jenkins (RS) 5+1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

REFEREE: M. Breckon

KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW

QUARTER-FINALS – FIRST LEG: Birmingham 33-57 Leicester, King’s Lynn 53-37 Oxford, Belle Vue 40-50 Ipswich

THE REPORT

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches stormed to an impressive 10-point victory, in the first leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final tie against the Belle Vue Aces, in Manchester on Monday night.

It was a solid team performance that saw the Suffolk side celebrating their first ever victory at the National Speedway Stadium, with every rider enjoying at least a paid win.  

On a well-prepared track the Witches took the lead in heat four and although the home side closed to within two points, with a 5-1 in the seventh, the visitors were soon back in control, following a trio of mid-meeting heat advantages.

The fast-starting Witches pairing of Jason Doyle and Danny King were soon picked off by Brady Kurtz, early in the opening heat, in a share of the spoils, before Dan Thompson split the home pairing in the second.

That left the Witches trailing by two, but they were soon level again. Adam Ellis raced away from the home pairing in the third, holding off the spirited challenge of Jamon Lidsey, with Tom Brennan building speed at the back and passing Zack Cook on the run to the line for the visitors first heat advantage of the night.  

Emil Sayfutdinov then comfortably won heat four, from Dan Bewley and with Jordan Jenkins finishing in third it was the Witches holding a two-point lead.

Doyle and King then raced to a 5-1 over Cook and Lidsey in the fifth, to extend the Witches lead to six and with Thompson and Sayfutdinov filling the minor places behind Kurtz in the sixth the visitors kept their advantage.

The home side then hit back with their own 5-1 in the seventh, to reduce the deficit to just two points, but a mid-meeting rally settled any nerves the Witches may have felt.

King was to hit the track in the eighth, after a knock from Norick Blödorn going into the first bend. In the re-run the Witches pairing were away at the front until Blödorn, coming from way back picked up drive and clipped Jenkins’ rear wheel before crashing out. The referee awarded the heat as a Witches maximum.

Another followed from Sayfutdinov and Thompson in the ninth, to take the visitors 10 points to the good and they extended this to twelve, with a 4-2 in the tenth, Brennan pulled out a big ride to hold off the previously unbeaten Kurtz and Ellis picking up third.

Heats eleven and twelve were shared before Kurtz and Bewley defeated Doyle and Sayfutdinov in the thirteenth. That reduced the Witches advantage to eight but the win on the night was secured in the penultimate heat with Brennan and Thompson scoring maximum points.

Bewley held off Doyle for the win in heat fifteen and with Kurtz finishing third the home side had clawed a couple back, but it is the Witches who will be feeling confident of getting the job done when the two sides race the second leg at Foxhall on Thursday. 

RITCHIE HAWKINS REACTION

Image courtesy of Ian Charles

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s win at Belle Vue…

“Everyone contributed to this result, it was good team performance, and every rider had a win or a paid win. We had very few last places, we’re a very solid side and everyone can go away happy with their own performances, as well as obviously the team, it was a great win.

“Dan was brilliant, especially as he had been feeling under the weather. His progress carries on an upward spiral. I know he scored great points, but he really showed his racing brain tonight, with some brilliant moves.

“We weren’t getting carried away at all as we’ve had good starts to meetings there before. In the seventh they got a 5-1 to pull a few back, but whilst we’ve dropped away in the second half of meetings there before, we didn’t tonight and kept pushing right to the end and to come away with a 10-point win is great.

“I thought the track was good and there was some really good racing tonight. It would have been a good meeting to watch. It was nice to have good weather there and not to race in really wet conditions. Danny King is fine after his fall; it was a classic unsatisfactory start. I was really pleased to see him start the season so strong. I just think overall it’s so positive for everyone we’ve not shown any rustiness, and that goes down to the preparation that the boys put in through the winter.

“Tom changed bikes after two rides and was extremely quick after that, which is good to see after a tough first couple of rides that he can then turn it on for a couple of wins.

“Anything can happen, certainly at these early stages of a season and Belle Vue are an extremely good side. They are league champions for good reason. We certainly can’t relax going into Thursday but if we share the same level of focus and commitment as we did tonight, it’s with us to get the job done and progress.”

RIDER OF THE NIGHT

Fans online voted for Thompson as the star man for Ipswich after the reserve scored 8+2 after four second place finishes.

WHAT IT MEANS

Ipswich take a healthy 10-point lead back to Suffolk for the second leg of the quarter-final on Thursday at Foxhall.

NEXT FIXTURE

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Belle Vue Aces at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 27th March in a Knockout Cup quarter-final second leg fixture. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.

HAWKINS BACKING CLASS OF 2025 FOR SUCCESS

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By Rob Binns

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins has high hopes for the 2025 ROWE Motor Oil Premiership season.

Hawkins is excited for the season to get underway and believes that after last season’s injury struggles, the Witches are ready to win the league title.

He said: “It’s good to get back, especially after last season and how it ended. It’s nice to be back and have everyone positive, fit again and ready to go. Between this side, they’ve won absolutely everything in the sport and now we need to do it together as an Ipswich team. It’s been a long while since we’ve won team trophies, and we’ve lost a lot of finals that I can pinpoint every one where they went wrong.

“I think winning the Knockout Cup [in 2023] got that monkey off our back and I believe we would’ve won one or two trophies last year if it hadn’t been for the injuries. I think this is a team, if we can keep them together, that is mentally strong enough to get ourselves over the line this time.”

Ipswich go into the new season with six of the seven riders from last year with Tom Brennan coming in in place of Keynan Rew and Hawkins spoke of the importance of keeping this group together.

He said: “Everyone was great to work with and obviously we were flying before the injuries struck so we wanted to keep it pretty similar. Everyone knew Danny (King) would be back fit, Doyley (Jason Doyle) as well and Emil (Sayfutdinov) coming back is always a big bonus every year so yeah, everyone is back fit, and we hope to pick up from where we were before the injuries.

“Just one change in bringing in Tom who has rode for us a lot anyway, so it keeps things pretty similar. He’s settled in well; we’re quite a heavily British side and all the Brits know each other well and he rides with Doyley anyway so we’re a close-knit group. When guests come in it’s something I’m looking at, that they fit into that as well before you sign them permanently, so it’s been pretty simple for him to slot in with us.

“[Over the winter] they’ve seen each other about when they’re practicing, and we’ve kept in touch. Everyone was initially concentrating on getting back fit and it’s nice to have a little break, but everyone is really keen to get going again now. We’ve kept a good team spirit in the majority of my time here and I think that’s led to the majority of good results. Someone like Adam (Ellis) is paramount in that and it makes a big difference when things are tough like last year and in previous years when we’ve been successful against all odds.

“I’ve got a very good relationship with all the boys, and I know how they work now, most of them. It’s certainly working, you can’t allow for injuries, but our results have been good. I’ll give them absolutely everything and they know that and that’s the main thing.”

Hawkins insists the Witches’ aim for the 2025 season is to win trophies but knows there’s a lot of work to do starting with the quarter-final of the Knockout Cup against the Belle Vue Aces.

“Our goal is to win both trophies and do the double. I think that’s a realistic goal as well but that’s a long way off and the toughest test we could have is at Belle Vue in this first meeting. Opening nights can always be banana skins and we’ve got the hardest test possible against the reigning league champions.

“They’re definitely one of the top three sides on paper, probably us and them are the top two sides on paper in the league. We couldn’t have asked for a tougher test so if we can get through this week then we’ll have a bit of time to relax into the league before the next round of the cup.”

PREMIERSHIP CONFIRMS 2025 PARTNERS

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BRITISH Speedway’s Premiership will race into the 2025 season with an increased number of partnership arrangements in place.

With league title sponsors ROWE Motor Insurance back for a second year, all of the 2024 league partners have renewed for the upcoming campaign.

We welcome back Roger Warnes Transport, Power Maxed, MediaCo and Steel Seal and thank them for their continued support.

Joining as new Premiership Partners for 2025, we are delighted to receive support from Arctic Cabins, Cabin Master, The Awning Company and Teng Tools.

Full details of all Premiership Partners are available from https://britishspeedway.co.uk .

RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (A)

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The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Manchester to face the Belle Vue Aces at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday 24th March in a Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.

LINE-UPS

BELLE VUE: 1. Brady Kurtz © 9.18 2. Norick Blödorn 5.40 3. Jaimon Lidsey 6.58 4. Zach Cook 5.57 5. Dan Bewley 8.52 6. Tate Zischke 4.57 7. Jake Mulford (RS). Team Manager: Mark Lemon

IPSWICH: 1. Jason Doyle 9.36 2. Danny King © 6.14 3. Adam Ellis 5.47 4. Tom Brennan 6.52 5. Emil Sayfutdinov 9.12 6. Dan Thompson 3.11 7. Jordan Jenkins (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

REFEREE: M. Breckon

KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW

QUARTER-FINALS: Birmingham v Leicester, King’s Lynn v Oxford, Belle Vue v Ipswich.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are available to purchase online in advance here and on the gate.

LIVE COVERAGE

You can watch the meeting live on British Speedway Network here.

THE PREVIEW

The Witches begin their 2025 campaign with a tough assignment away at Belle Vue on Monday in the Knockout Cup.

It is a familiar looking side to Ipswich fans with just one change to the team over the winter as Tom Brennan replaced Keynan Rew. The former British Under-21 champion makes his debut for the club at a place he knows well, having started his Premiership career with the Aces back in 2021 where he won a league title with the club in 2022.

Jason Doyle returns to the side at number one for the first time since last May, having missed the majority of last season after snapping two tendons in his left shoulder and tearing his rotator cuff following a crash at King’s Lynn. The former world champion has been back in action on British shores over the last week and looks to have hit the ground running in pre-season.  

Having finished as winners and runners-up in the past two editions of the Knockout Cup, it is competition that Ritchie Hawkins’ side have become used to going far in. Ipswich will be hoping to win their first ever meeting at the National Speedway Stadium having lost all 12 of their previous fixtures raced in Manchester but if that does not happen, keeping the score tight for the second leg at Foxhall is a must.   

MANAGER’S NOTES

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…

“It is the toughest draw we could have got in the cup and the toughest place we could go to start the season. We know it is the only place we didn’t win at last year and the only place we have never won. It is two of the best teams in the competition, so we know how difficult it is going to be.

“We have got a lot of riders coming back from injuries after last year so it could be tough, but we also have a great line-up. Belle Vue have been extremely successful over the last few years although they have started slowly in the past so maybe now is the time for us to catch them cold and finally get a win at the National Speedway Stadium.

“We are going to start the Knockout Cup with this riding order and then we will review it after that. Danny, Tom and Adam will be mixed around during the season to see what we think is best. Danny has had a long, established career but I don’t think he has spent much time at number two, if any. In a sense, it is a position that could suit him, you get out on track a lot on the grippier surfaces. Now his hand is fixed and he can hold on, that is something that could work well for him and it is a nice number to ride at. He had a tough year last year so hopefully that can work in his favour.

“Adam and Tom get on very well and should be a strong pairing, as good as any other three and four in the league, so I am very hopeful it is going to gel and work well.”

BELLE VUE ACES

The hosts come into 2025 as the reigning ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions although they suffered an early exit in this competition last season, bowing out to Sheffield in the quarter-finals. Like the Witches there have been few changes to the side over the winter with just two ‘new’ faces to the team that finished 2024.

Zach Cook has replaced his brother Ben in the Aces side whilst Tate Zischke has recovered from injury to take his place back in the side as Antti Vuolas makes way. Zischke was signed by the Manchester club last season but made just one appearance, against Ipswich, where he crashed out and fractured seven vertebrae and five ribs, along with suffering a posterior injury.

LAST TIME OUT IN MANCHESTER

The Witches last travelled north in July of 2024, and it was a night to forget as the Aces ran out 58-26 winners. Lidsey raced to a 12-point maximum whilst only Sayfutdinov offered up any resistance for the away side scoring 10 points.

AWAY DAYS

Ticket prices can be found here and official programmes cost £3.50. For more information about your visit to the National Speedway Stadium, head here.

For more information about the club head to Belle Vue’s official website.

2025 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE

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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.

2025 CLUB SPONSORS

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By Henry Chard

Simply Climate Control, KEM Pumps, Edwards Electrical and Ipswich Town Football Club will continue their sponsorship of the club in 2025.

KEM Pumps – They are specialists in the servicing, repair and compliance of Cooling Towers (All Makes & Models), Pressurisation Vessels / Booster Sets, Water Hygiene (Testing & Treatment), Risk Assessments & Legionella Prevention and Indoor Air Quality operating throughout the UK with highly trained and experienced advisors, technicians and engineers and have dedicated teams specifically for London and the South East of England.

Simply Climate Control – Simply Climate Control is a progressive business specialising in the design, supply and installation of heating, ventilation & air conditioning (hvac) systems for retail, commercial, industrial & domestic spaces.

Ipswich Town Football Club – They offer an extensive range of hospitality, advertising and sponsorship opportunities to place your business front and centre, plus unforgettable experiences for their passionate and loyal supporters.

Edwards Electrical – Their team offer electrical, plumbing, decorating and all aspects of building work and maintenance. They have been undertaking work nationwide for several years.

Promoter Chris Louis placed on record his thanks to all of the club sponsors, meeting sponsors and advertisers.

2025 PARTNER SPONSORS: RN EUSTON & SCOTT PROPERTIES

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By Henry Chard

RN Euston & Scott Properties will continue as partner sponsors of the 2025 team after renewing their sponsorship with the club.

RN Euston are a successful family run building business established in East Anglia, specialising in steel framed commercial and agricultural buildings whilst Scott Properties is a family run, self-funded Land Promoter operating throughout East Anglia and the South East of England.

Promoter Chris Louis is grateful for the continued support of the two companies.

“It is such a pleasure to welcome both Scott Properties and RN Euston back as our partner sponsors. 

“Both companies are successful family run, local businesses and both Martin Scott and Mark Euston are huge fans of the club and want nothing more than to help the club, bring success and silverware back to Suffolk. 

“As a club we are so lucky to have people like Mark, Martin and their families behind us.”

TRU7 GROUP TO SPONSOR IPSWICH IN 2025

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By Henry Chard

The 2025 side will continue to be known as the Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches after Guy Nicholls and the Tru7 Group renewed their title sponsorship with the club for the new season.

The Tru7 Group have been title sponsors since 2016, with the Witches being known as the Tru7.com Witches, the Tru Plant Witches and the Tru Mix Witches.

Promoter Chris Louis is looking forward to continuing the journey together with Tru7 Group.

“The Tru7 Group have been a fantastic partner, and their support plays a huge role in what we do on and off the track.  We’re excited to continue the journey together. 

“With our partnership we have been able to build strong, competitive teams over the past couple of seasons.  These teams have thrilled and excited fans up and down the country. 

“As a club we are tremendously proud of that, but now it’s time to put some trophies in the cabinet.  I would like to personally thank Guy, his family and everyone at the Tru7 Group for their support.”