Jason Doyle has said Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches fans deserve this sensational climax to the season after having had so many near misses and heartaches in recent times.
The Witches entertain Sheffield Tigers in the sport’s biggest team clash of the season, the Sports Insure Premiership grand final, first leg, at Foxhall Stadium on Tuesday night, 7.30pm. It is set to be an explosive night of action as the Witches look to build a big first leg lead.
Doyle, who has been sensational for the Witches again in his second year with the club, can’t wait for the final to come round.
“The Ipswich club and Witches fans deserve this after so many years of heartache, not winning any silverware,” Doyle said.
“To finally get silverware this year with the Knockout Cup is great, now we have the chance to make it a double. It would be amazing.”
Doyle and the Witches are the form team in the Sports Insure Premiership, having lost just four of their last 13 meetings. They hung tough at Belle Vue last Monday night, seeing off the current champions, in a thrilling last heat to reach the final.
Doyle has nothing but praise for his team-mates and management when questioned about the upturn in form.
“You have to put that down to team manager Ritchie Hawkins and Chris Louis,” Doyle said.
“They stuck by us all season, even when there was a dip in the rollercoaster shall we say. There’s a great team spirit at Ipswich. We work as a team.
“I can honestly say – and I mean this – I have never ridden in a team where the atmosphere has been so good.
“It showed at Belle Vue when we were up against it, and it meant so much when we made it into the final. It wasn’t just for the riders on the track, it was for the mechanics, the whole outfit in the pits, the fans, everyone.
“The amount of support we have and especially from the fans is something special.”
Doyle, who joined the Witches at the start of the 2022 season, admits it has been a good move for him.
“Ipswich have been a club I have always wanted to ride for, but I didn’t know when I would get the chance,” he said.
“It all fell into my hands when Swindon left the league and I moved to Ipswich. Since then, I’ve absolutely loved it. To get two years in a row and some silverware. And now the chance to win the big one, that’s always been the goal.
“We’re getting the crowds into Foxhall. The team notice the noise. Now we want to do it for them.”
Admission for fans on Tuesday at Foxhall: Adults (17+) £22, concessions (65+) £20, children (16 and under) free, car parking is also free, matchday race programme: £3
IPSWICH WITCHES v SHEFFIELD TIGERS, Sports Insure Premiership grand final, first leg, Foxhall Stadium, Tuesday, October 3, 7.30pm start.
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches promoter Chris Louis says the sporting success currently reverberating around the town can be a huge lift to his team, as the Foxhall side go in search of a league and cup double.
The Witches head into Tuesday night’s huge Sports Insure Premiership grand final, first leg clash with Sheffield Tigers at Foxhall Stadium (7.30pm start), looking to build a big lead for the second leg in South Yorkshire on Thursday.
And Louis hopes the current sporting ‘feel good factor’ around the town will play a big part in the Witches winning the double for the first time in 25 years.
“Sporting success has often gone hand in hand in Ipswich with the football team and the speedway team,” he said.
“It’s been awesome to see Ipswich Town start so well this season in the Championship, and we already have one cup in the bag – we want another.
“It would be wonderful to see Ipswich Town fans come and give us a look – give us a cheer for this one final meeting. The atmosphere at Portman Road in recent seasons has been phenomenal, I know, I’ve experienced it – and it’s been getting better and better at Foxhall as well.”
Louis also heaped praise on team manager Ritchie Hawkins, who, in his seventh season with the club, has now taken the Witches to three play-off finals – one in the Championship and two in the Premiership, as well as two cup finals.
“Managers in all sports take stick because everyone is an armchair manager, but his commitment to the club and the efforts he puts in has never wavered,” Louis said.
“He’s always done a good job with the tools he has had at his disposal. This is his third play-off final now. We’ve reached two cup finals. If we can pull off a cup and league double, I’d be made up for him, as well as the team.”
The Witches have already beaten Sheffield in the Knockout Cup final two weeks ago over two legs. But it is set to be a different Sheffield team who come to Foxhall on Tuesday, although Louis is only concentrating on his side – he knows they can write their names into Witches folklore.
“I want to see this team get what they deserve,” he added.
“Because for any poor individual performances, or the team has had, they’ve never stopped trying.
“I have seen that. I have seen when there have been issues and problems. But that’s a life thing. They’re human beings at the end of the day.
“But they genuinely want the club to succeed, they have given 100% all the time. I really hope they pull it off.”
Admission for fans on Tuesday at Foxhall: Adults (17+) £22, concessions (65+) £20, children (16 and under) free, car parking is also free, matchday race programme: £3
IPSWICH WITCHES v SHEFFIELD TIGERS, Sports Insure Premiership grand final, first leg, Foxhall Stadium, Tuesday, October 3, 7.30pm start.
All the details ahead of our Sports Insure Premiership play-off final first leg fixture with Sheffield.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches host the Sheffield Tigers at Foxhall Stadium on Tuesday 3rd October in a Sports Insure Premiership play-off final first leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
MEETING SPONSORS
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First Leg: Ipswich 54-36 Belle Vue. Second Leg: Belle Vue 51-39 Ipswich
First Leg: Wolverhampton 40-50 Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield 39-21 Wolverhampton
FINAL
First Leg: Ipswich vs Sheffield (Oct 3). Second Leg: Sheffield vs Ipswich (Oct 5)
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online (until 7pm on raceday) and on the gate and are priced at £22 for adults and £20 for concessions (65+). Children 16 and under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3 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 STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches host the first leg of the Sports Insure Premiership play-off final against Sheffield on Tuesday evening at Foxhall.
It has been quite a few weeks for the Suffolk club who snuck into the play-offs a few weeks ago. The team followed that up by winning the Knockout Cup for the first time since 1998 and then proceeded to knock out reigning champions Belle Vue in the play-off semi-final after a dramatic last-heat decider at the National Speedway Stadium. That has set up a two-legged tie against the Sheffield Tigers to win the Sports Insure Premiership title and complete a remarkable double.
The first leg was due to be raced on Monday but with rain forecast, a decision was made on Sunday to move the first leg to Tuesday. Keynan Rew is back in the main body of the team, riding at number four with Danyon Hume back at reserve. Joe Thompson is the guest for injured brother Dan in the Rising Star position. Ipswich have won all three home meetings against the Tigers in 2023, 47-43 and 51-39 in the league and 55-35 in the Knockout Cup final. A season’s work boils down to this and the Foxhall crowd will be doing everything they can to help their side build as big a lead as possible to take to Owlerton on Thursday for the decisive second leg.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“It is the biggest meeting of the season, and we are going into it buzzing. Clearly, we are in great form, and we have two more meetings to carry that on and it will be 30 tough races home and away. We have the chance to build up a lead at home on Tuesday and with the way the boys have been riding, we go into it with confidence. We know this is the final and will show the determination needed in what will be a tough test.
“The atmosphere here at Ipswich over the last few weeks has been electric and I’m sure everyone will be out in force again on Tuesday, it makes the world of difference. We want to go and win this together.
“Keynan is back in the team, and he is in great form and has done very well at reserve and hopefully he can carry on that form as he is quite capable of riding at number four. Danyon hasn’t got the points he has deserved in the last few weeks. He proved a very good reserve earlier on in the season when he was getting six or seven rides every meeting. If he carries on riding like he has been in the last couple of months at reserve like he has done in the team, then he could be a key rider for us down there.
“Sheffield have got bad injuries and are not running with their team, but they are in a position where they can bring in good guests to compensate for this. I don’t think it will massively weaken them and I think they will bring a very strong side and one that will be very determined to deal with any conditions they will face. They will come prepared; they have been to Ipswich recently and will know what to expect from the track. They will be coming to try and win the meeting and we need to be on top of our game.”
THE TIGERS
Sheffield overcame Wolverhampton in the play-off semi-final to book their place in the final, a result that included a 10-point win away from home in the first leg. The Tigers were last year’s runners-up in the Sports Insure Premiership and will be desperate to avoid missing out at the final hurdle for the second year in succession. The South Yorkshire outfit were also recently beaten by the Witches in the Knockout Cup final and know they must put on a better showing in Suffolk on Tuesday to give them a chance to lift the trophy in front of their own fans on Thursday.
The visitors have a number of injuries with Tai Woffinden, Tobiasz Musielak and Claus Vissing all unavailable. Grand Prix rider Robert Lambert will guest at number one whilst Richard Lawson will be at number five. Connor Mountain is the third guest at number six.
Provisional dates have been announced for the Sports Insure Premiership Grand Final next week.
Ipswich are the first team to confirm their place in the Final after their dramatic aggregate win over Belle Vue, and the Witches are now awaiting news of their opponents in the decider.
The other semi-final sees Sheffield in the driving seat after a 50-40 first leg win at Wolverhampton, and that tie will be completed at Owlerton on Thursday.
Ipswich’s home date for the Final will be dependent on their opposition: should the Witches be facing Sheffield, they will host the first leg at Foxhall on Monday October 2, with the return at Owlerton on Thursday October 5.
If Wolverhampton overturn their deficit at Sheffield this week, they would host Ipswich next Monday with the Witches then staging the second leg on Thursday.
GRAND FINAL FIXTURES (All provisional)
MONDAY OCTOBER 2:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30 OR Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 5:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30 OR Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
First Leg: Ipswich 54-36 Belle Vue. Second Leg: Belle Vue 51-39 Ipswich
First Leg: Wolverhampton 40-50 Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (Sep 28)
FINAL
Ipswich vs Sheffield or Wolverhampton
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches progressed to the Sports Insure Premiership play-off final after a dramatic aggregate victory over Belle Vue on Monday night at the National Speedway Stadium.
The Witches took an 18-point lead to Manchester after the first leg, with Jack Smith guesting for the injured Dan Thompson and Jason Doyle back from injury. The Aces were using rider replacement for the injured Charles Wright and needed a strong start to try and work their way back into the tie, but it was Ipswich who went ahead early on. The reigning champions battled back in fine style to pile the pressure on Ipswich and take it to a last-heat decider. However, Emil Sayfutdinov and Doyle came up with a race to remember in heat 15 to secure the club’s progress into the play-off final. Sayfutdinov top scored with 11.
Sayfutdinov won a shared heat one before Keynan Rew produced a sensational ride to win heat two. Norick Blödorn led the race, but Rew kept building speed throughout the race on the outside line and blasted around the Aces rider on the final turn to take the victory in a 3-3. Skipper Danny King made the gate in heat three and went on and won the race as Jaimon Lidsey retired with machinery issues whilst in second on the opening lap, handing the away side a 2-4. Doyle made it four wins in a row for the away side with another three points in heat four as Smith picked up a valuable point for another heat advantage. That put the visitors 10-14 up on the night and 22 points ahead on aggregate.
Belle Vue levelled the score on the night with a 5-1 in heat five and it was a 3-3 in heat six as Brady Kurtz passed Doyle to win. Dan Bewley won heat seven ahead of King and Blödorn made a pass on Danyon Hume to get third for a 4-2. The hosts hit a maximum in heat eight to put them 27-21 up in the meeting and 12 points behind on aggregate.
Doyle led heat nine, but Lidsey got past the Ipswich man to win for the home team in a 4-2. Kurtz and Tom Brennan made the gate in heat 10 but King produced a smart move to pass Brennan and split the home pairing. Sayfutdinov stemmed the tide in heat 11 with a comfortable win ahead of Bewley as Rew and Blödorn changed positions all race for third, but it was the Ipswich man who made the move stick on the final turn for a heat advantage to the Suffolk side. Lidsey took the chequered flag in heat 12 getting past Rew to hit the front and King battled hard to relegate Blödorn to the back for a vital 3-3 which left the score 40-32 and 76-86 on aggregate, with Ipswich on the brink of confirming their spot in the final.
Belle Vue kept the tie alive in heat 13 as Kurtz won and Bewley passed both Sayfutdinov and Doyle in the same move to join his teammate for a 5-1 which put them just six points behind on aggregate with two to race. The home team then hit another maximum in heat 14 to take it to a last-heat decider, knowing another 5-1 would see them remarkably progress to the final. Heat 15, where do you start? The Aces pair of Bewley and Kurtz hit the front early on and looked like they might complete an unbelievable comeback but Doyle and Sayfutdinov had other ideas as Doyle went from fourth to first and was followed through the traffic by partner Sayfutdinov for a maximum which booked the Witches’ place in the play-off final and sparked jubilant celebrations from the Ipswich riders, management and fans in attendance.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Picture courtesy of Ian Charles
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s meeting at Belle Vue.
“What a night! It was only fitting that it came down to our top two to do the business in heat 15. What a ride from both of them and for Jason Doyle to step it up after what he has done for the club in the last two years showed what he is all about. It was phenomenal from them both and it is hard to put into words at the moment, but we need to enjoy tonight but we are only through the semis, and we have bigger meetings to come next week.
“I was delighted with the start we made to the meeting, but they are the champions for a reason, and they came back at us really strongly. I thought heat 11 would be the one that got us over the line as such, but they turned it around in heat 13 with a 5-1 which really put the pressure on. It swung our way again in heat 15 in an up and down night.
“When we go into heat 15 with those two you are nearly always feeling confident, a 3-3 is quite realistic for those two but the way the night had gone there was massive pressure on them. They stepped up and that is why they are two of the top riders in the world and that is what they live for. They rose to the occasion.
“It shows we have come a long way with what we have been through this year to get here. That has made us very strong, and I didn’t see any panic when things were going wrong for us tonight. We just kept fighting for every point and they stuck to the task very well.
“It’s looking like the final will be against Sheffield, they are going to be running with three guests probably and it could be a very different side to the one we faced in the Knockout Cup final, but we start at 0-0 and we will need to carry on our performances of late. We have come such a long way we don’t want to let it slip now.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Picture courtesy of Taylor Lanning
Two riders of the night, Sayfutdinov and Doyle were the heat 15 heroes for Ipswich producing one of the greatest races of all time to put Ipswich in the play-off final.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich will race in the Sports Insure Premiership play-off final where they will face either Sheffield or Wolverhampton over two legs on 2nd and 5th October.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches will race in the Sports Insure Premiership play-off final first leg on Monday 2nd October. Please keep across our website and social media channels for confirmation on who we will face and where the first leg will be held.
All the details ahead of our Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final second leg fixture with Belle Vue.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to Manchester to face Belle Vue at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday 25th September in a Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final second leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
First Leg: Ipswich 54-36 Belle Vue. Second Leg: Belle Vue vs Ipswich (Sep 25)
First Leg: Wolverhampton vs Sheffield (Sep 25). Second Leg: Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (Sep 28)
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased on the gate and online in advance here.
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to the National Speedway Stadium to take on the Belle Vue Aces in the second leg of their Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final tie.
The two sides met last Thursday at Foxhall and despite missing Jason Doyle and Dan Thompson through injury the Witches raced to a thumping 54-36 victory in the first leg, to give them an 18-point lead going into the deciding leg. Belle Vue were without Charles Wright but it was a surprise result for many as the reigning champions and 2023 table-toppers fell to a heavy defeat, having won twice at Foxhall this season.
Ipswich certainly have momentum having won nine of their last 12 meetings in all competitions and lifted the Knockout Cup in that period. The Suffolk side have been beaten on both of their visits to the National Speedway Stadium this season, 55-35 and 49-41 and despite holding a healthy lead, the tie is by no means over with the Aces more than capable of overturning the 18-point deficit.
There is good news for Ipswich fans with Jason Doyle set to return to the side after his crash at the Danish Grand Prix forced him to miss the first leg. Jack Smith guests again for the injured Dan Thompson in the Rising Star position and has plenty of experience at the National Speedway Stadium having raced many laps there for the Belle Vue Colts in the NDL.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“We need to attack from the off, I think it is going to be a very tough meeting. Belle Vue are going to be determined, they do not want to lose their title in the semi-final this year. They are very good around there, so we know we need to attack them, and we will need to fight for every point. We take it as a one-off meeting, we are certainly not going to be looking at an 18-point lead we have got, we have got to attack it and try and win the meeting.
“We are hoping to have Jason back on Monday, he is riding on Sunday so hopefully he comes through that and is fit.
“We have Jack Smith again at number seven, and he is very happy to be making another appearance in the Sports Insure Premiership. He knows the place very well and is capable of scoring points around there at number seven.”
THE ACES
The 2022 champions are looking to retain their title and won the league phase comfortably. Belle Vue have lost just once on home shale this season back in March and started the play-offs as favourites to lift the trophy again before that heavy defeat at Foxhall last Thursday put them on the back foot. However, the Aces have won by more than 18 points on their home track on six occasions in the Sports Insure Premiership this season, including once against Ipswich.
The hosts are without the injured Charles Wright and will be using rider replacement at number four in his absence. The likes of Brady Kurtz, Tom Brennan and Norick Blödorn were all part of last year’s title winning side and with the additions of Grand Prix rider Dan Bewley and Jaimon Lidsey this year, they are a formidable outfit at the National Speedway Stadium.
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.
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First Leg: Ipswich 54-36 Belle Vue. Second Leg: Belle Vue vs Ipswich (Sep 25)
First Leg: Wolverhampton vs Sheffield (Sep 25). Second Leg: Sheffield vs Wolverhampton (Sep 28)
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches raced to a remarkable 54-36 win over reigning champions Belle Vue on Thursday night at Foxhall in the first leg of their Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final tie.
The hosts were without the talismanic Jason Doyle for the crucial clash after his crash at the Danish Grand Prix with Chris Harris guesting in his place and Jack Smith was guesting for the injured Dan Thompson at number seven. The Aces were missing Charles Wright with injury and were using rider replacement at number two. The Suffolk side started as they meant to go on and dominated the tie from start to finish to build a commanding 18-point lead ahead of the second leg at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday. Emil Sayfutdinov top scored with 14 points.
Sayfutdinov won heat one and Danyon Hume settled in third for a Witches 4-2. Norick Blödorn won heat two and it looked like being a 3-3 until Smith fell whilst in third, resulting in a heat advantage to the visitors. Danny King won heat three and was joined early on by Erik Riss in second, but Tom Brennan split the home pairing to limit the damage to a 4-2. Blödorn made the gate again in heat four, but Harris rounded him on the opening lap and Rew nipped up the inside for a 5-1 which put Ipswich 15-9 up.
Riss and King made superb gates in heat five and Brady Kurtz briefly got past King into second on the third lap but ran wide and allowed the home skipper back past for another maximum. Sayfutdinov was a comfortable winner again in heat six and as was the case in heat one, Hume settled into third for another Witches heat advantage. Harris was flying again in heat seven and took victory in a shared heat. Jaimon Lidsey was a clear winner in heat eight but there was an almighty battle behind him. Smith battled his way into second and Rew did likewise getting into third, but Connor Bailey had other ideas and worked his way past both Witches late in the race, but Smith wasn’t done and fought back into second as you could throw a blanket over the three riders on the finish line. It finished in a 2-4 to Belle Vue and left the score 29-19.
King blasted to another victory in heat nine and Riss picked up third for a 4-2 to the home team. Sayfutdinov was untroubled in heat 10 and once again it was Hume who rode well in third to provide another heat advantage to the hosts. Kurtz provided a rare race win for his side in heat 11 but it ended in a 3-3. Lidsey was another race winner for the away side in heat 12 but again it was a share of the points with the Witches in control at 43-29.
Sayfutdinov won again in heat 13 and was joined by Harris for a big 5-1 with the Aces unable to land a blow on the Witches pair. Brennan won heat 14 but once again couldn’t be joined by a teammate in the points, meaning a 3-3. Kurtz won the final race of the night to ruin Sayfutdinov’s maximum and it could have been a 2-4 to the visitors but Harris lined up Lidsey and flew past the Aces man for third to end the night with a 3-3 and give Ipswich a commanding lead to take to Manchester on Monday for the second leg.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s win against Belle Vue.
“It was as good a performance and result as we could have hoped for. We had two guests come in who both performed very well and fitted straight into the team. We have built up some great momentum here at Foxhall and some home track advantage. Conditions were wet from all the rain we have had but we showed our determination to get stuck into the dirt and race for the cause. I’m delighted with every single one of them and it was a brilliant result.
“Doyley was a big loss, and you can’t replace him and what he has done for the club in the last two years, he has been exceptional. Chris came in and when you see him win heat four, you know he is going to ride well in that sort of form, and you know you have got as good a replacement as you could hope for. That gave everyone a boost and it didn’t bring everyone down; we are a good roll and have had our backs against the wall all season and we have dealt with it very well. As we have come through that we are very mentally strong, and we certainly proved that tonight.
“I thought Jack Smith put in a great performance. We have had a lot of number sevens here over the last few years and not many have got stuck in like he did in his first race. He doesn’t know the track well, but he put everything out there for us. He looked good in heat two until he made a slight mistake until he got caught out. I am really happy with him, he was down to do the Belle Vue meeting which he will be doing Monday and he showed he was keen to race, and I like that, that impressed me his keenness to race for us. I felt when we were told we couldn’t use Joe (Thompson) who we have using for a lot of this season, I felt he deserved to have a go and he certainly impressed.
“We are in great form and are on a roll. Confidence is high and we go into Monday’s meeting at Belle Vue with a nice lead but Belle Vue are more than capable of turning that around, they are formidable on their home track. They are the reigning champions and have been the best team all year and have beaten a lot of teams by more than 18 points over the last couple of seasons. Yes, we are in good position, as good as we could have hoped for, but Monday is going to be tough, and we are going to need to perform as good as we have been over the last few weeks if we want to get through. It is still a big ask on Monday, we are in a good position, but we are certainly not through. We have got 15 very tough heats to go, and I think they will know they are capable of beating teams by 18 points on their home track and we will need to be at our very best again on Monday to progress.”
SIMPLY CLIMATE CONTROL & RED 12 RECRUITMENT RIDERS OF THE NIGHT
Simply Climate Control chose captain King who scored 10+1 from four rides.
Red 12 Recruitment picked Sayfutdinov who dropped just one point from five rides.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich take a healthy 18-point lead to Manchester on Monday where they take on the Belle Vue Aces in the second leg of this play-off semi-final.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to Manchester on Monday 25th September to take on the Belle Vue Aces at the National Speedway Stadium in the second leg of a Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final tie. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches promoter Chris Louis says his side were lifted by the fans in the Knockout Cup final – and he hopes for more of the same this Thursday, as Belle Vue visit Foxhall in the Sports Insure Premiership play-off, semi-final, first leg – 7.30pm start.
Witches fans made their voices heard throughout the evening before pouring onto the centre green as their heroes lifted the Knockout Cup after victory over Sheffield Tigers last Thursday. It was the club’s first major trophy in 25 years.
Now Louis and his team are hungry for more – with champions Belle Vue standing in their way of reaching the play-off final.
“Last week was great, the celebrations, the way the crowd were throughout the meeting helped carry us along,” Louis said. “The fans can lift us again.
“The noise, the atmosphere was unbelievable. I haven’t seen and watched or felt such celebrations since I lifted the trophy in 1998.”
Louis admits that even his own riders were taken aback with the outpouring of joy seen at the stadium last Thursday. And he knows it has left a mark on all of them.
“I was watching the faces of our riders when the fans came onto the centre green, and you could tell a few of them were surprised to see how much it meant to everyone,” Louis said.
“That night will sit with them, and they are under no illusions now why we do what we do at Ipswich – and why people come to watch and support us.”
The Witches face a stiff challenge against Belle Vue if they are to reach the final where they would race either Sheffield or Wolverhampton, having not beaten the Manchester outfit in four outings this season. And they will have to do it without star man Jason Doyle who crashed heavily at the weekend in Denmark.
Not that Louis has ruled Doyle out of this season’s play-offs.
“Jason is a waiting game,” he said.
“He needs to feel comfortable and be ready to ride. He has no broken bones, all I will say is, he’s not ruled out for the season, but he is ruled out for this week.
“It will be a tough couple of fixtures, we know that. But we are riding well, are confident and we will look to build up a lead on Thursday.”
IPSWICH WITCHES v BELLE VUE ACES, Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final, first leg, Foxhall Stadium, Thursday, September 21, 7.30pm.
All the details ahead of our Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final first leg fixture with Belle Vue.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches host the Belle Vue Aces at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 21st September in a Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final first leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
MEETING SPONSORS
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.
RED 12 Recruitment – RED 12 offers a one stop solution to clients and candidates alike. For their clients they can offer a complete service ranging from transport managers, traffic operators to HGV drivers, 7.5t and van drivers. They understand everybody’s lifestyle is different which is why for their candidates they can offer a range of work to suit your needs, whether its long term, weekend work, part time or permanent. RED 12 has the solution for you.
First Leg: Ipswich vs Belle Vue. Second Leg: Belle Vue vs Ipswich
First Leg: Wolverhampton vs Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield vs Wolverhampton
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online (until 7pm on raceday) and on the gate and are priced at £22 for adults and £20 for concessions (65+). Children 16 and under go free. Official programmes are priced at £3 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 STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches race the first leg of their Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final tie against the Belle Vue Aces on Thursday at Foxhall.
Ipswich were due to race the Aces in Manchester on Monday in what should have been the first leg, but the fixture was postponed due to the bad weather at the National Speedway Stadium. That means Ritchie Hawkins’ side will now be looking to build a big lead on home shale to take to Belle Vue next Monday for the deciding leg.
The hosts are without the talismanic Jason Doyle who is recovering from a nasty crash at the Danish Grand Prix last Saturday with Chris Harris guesting in his place. The home team are also still without injured Rising Star rider Dan Thompson and twin brother Joe was due to guest again in his place. However, the declared team was rejected because of the ‘eight-day rule’. Promoter Chris Louis said the following on the matter: “As a club we disagree with the wording in the rule book and the decision but in the interest of the sport we have changed our line up to include Jack.”
The Witches have lost to the Aces on both of their visits to Foxhall this season, 41-49 and 44-46 and are fully aware of the test that awaits them over two legs as they attempt to dethrone the champions.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“We head into play-offs without Jason Doyle and obviously he will be a big miss to us as he has been the rock of our side for the last two years and has been absolutely instrumental in making the play-offs over the last two seasons and winning the Knockout Cup. Unfortunately, he is still feeling pretty second hand after his massive crash last weekend and needs time to recover. Chris Harris will guest, and he will really enjoy track conditions if they are like they were last week. He always enjoys a guest booking and we will enjoy having him in the side.
“Now we host the first leg, and the emphasis is on trying to build up as big a lead as possible. We need another performance like we have had recently but we are racing against the reigning champions and a side that have got the better of us this year, and everyone else. It is a massive ask but if we can all pull together and perform like I know we can then we can get a lead to take to Manchester next week.
“We are in a great run of form, and we will have another great crowd like we did last week and that makes a big difference. If we can carry on that buzz because we all want to progress to the final again and we know that winning feeling and we want more of it. Everybody is fully focused on the job in hand, and we need to carry on what we have been today because of later we have been a very good side.”
THE ACES
Belle Vue have been the team to beat in the past two seasons, having won the league in 2022 and finished top of the 2023 table ahead of the play-offs. They have picked up six wins on the road in the Sports Insure Premiership this season and will come to Suffolk with confidence knowing that they have picked up two victories at Foxhall already this year.
The away side are without the injured Charles Wright and will be using rider replacement at number two in his absence. Norick Blödorn was due to miss Monday’s scheduled fixture after a crash in the SGP2 last Friday but is fit enough to take his place in the side at Foxhall.
