John Louis’ funeral will take place at the below address on Saturday 4th May at 10.30am. Family flowers only. Donations can be made to St Elizabeth Hospice here.
Seven Hills Crematorium
Felixstowe Road
Ipswich
IP10 0FG
JOHN LOUIS FUNERAL DETAILS
Author Archives: Henry Chard
RACEDAY REPORT: OXFORD 42–48 IPSWICH – ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1 (A)
By Henry Chard
THE SCORES
OXFORD 42: Maciej Janowski 7, Charles Wright 7+1, Nicolai Klindt 3+1, Rohan Tungate 11+1, Chris Harris © 8, Lewis Kerr 6 (Withdrawn), Ashton Boughen (RS) 0. Team Manager: Peter Schroeck
IPSWICH 48: Emil Sayfutdinov 11+2, Jordan Jenkins 5, Danny King © 6+1, Adam Ellis 5, Jason Doyle 13+1, Keynan Rew 1+1, Dan Thompson (RS) 7. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: C. Turnbull
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Oxford | 4 | 7 |
| Ipswich | 3 | 6 |
| Belle Vue | 3 | 4 |
| Sheffield | 3 | 4 |
| Leicester | 3 | 2 |
| Birmingham | 4 | 1 |
| King’s Lynn | 2 | 0 |
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches maintained their 100% record in 2024 with an excellent away win against league leaders Oxford Spires on Thursday night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
Both teams came into the fixture yet to taste defeat this season and at full strength, but it was the visitors who held a narrow advantage throughout the tie before sealing the points in the final race. Jason Doyle top scored with 13+1 on an entertaining night’s action in front of a good crowd.
The Suffolk side went ahead in heat one as Emil Sayfutdinov held off a charge from Maciej Janowski to win and Jordan Jenkins picked up a point for a 2-4. It was a 3-3 in heat two before Rohan Tungate did well to keep Adam Ellis behind him to take victory in heat three in another shared race. Doyle won heat four as Chris Harris worked hard to split the Witches pair which resulted in another heat advantage to Ipswich, putting them 10-14 up.
Tungate was a winner again in a shared heat five, getting the better of Jenkins to cross the line first. Doyle and Keynan Rew gated on a maximum in heat six but Janowski and Charles Wright both passed the Witches reserve for the 3-3. Lewis Kerr won heat seven and Danny King rode excellently to prevent a 5-1 to the hosts as he battled past Harris for second. Dan Thompson produced a determined ride to win heat eight ahead of Wright as Jenkins finished third for a heat advantage to make it 22-26 to the away team.
Doyle coasted to victory in a shared heat nine and in heat 10 the hosts clawed two points back as Janowski overtook Ellis for the win and Wright came home in third. Heat 11 was stopped as Kerr hit the fence whilst at the back and the Oxford reserve was withdrawn from the meeting with an injury. Sayfutdinov got the better of Harris to win the re-run as Ipswich recorded a 2-4. King provided another entertaining move in heat 12 as he raced past Nicolai Klindt for three points with partner Thompson amongst the points again for the heat advantage, giving the Witches a 33-39 lead.
Harris rounded Sayfutdinov in style to win heat 13 but with Doyle doing the same to Janowski at the back it was a 3-3. Wright, in for the injured Kerr, won heat 14 as partner Tungate passed both Witches in one move to get Oxford a 5-1 that took the meeting to a last-heat decider. However, as they so often did in 2023, Doyle and Sayfutdinov proved too strong in heat 15 as they raced to a maximum that secured the points and kept up the perfect record this campaign.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s win against Oxford.
“It was another great performance and we carried on from where we left off at Leicester, it was a very similar performance, and we were solid throughout. Everyone contributed and I’m really happy to get an away win on the board early which eases a little bit of pressure on the season as a whole.
“We didn’t run many last places which makes you solid, we had a solid middle order led by an amazing top two. Dan is flying as a Rising Star, and it is great to see.
“Doyley and Adam had a meeting here last year, but the conditions were a lot different in that one because I think there was heavy rain, but they adapted pretty quickly. Adam, I felt looked a lot better than his points. When you have got a number seven that is going well you can give him extra rides, but I felt at this stage of the season and with it being a league match we have a lot of fixtures to go, and we need to keep the boys on track.
“I certainly feel like Keynan and Jordan were not riding bad enough to warrant losing a ride. Dan was riding exceptionally well but it was really nice to see Jordan step up another level after Leicester and he is improving every week. For him, five points from number two is a great return.
“It has been an amazing start to the season, as good as we could have hoped for. We are already gelled from last season but there is more to come I think from most of the side. Other teams will improve as well and there are a lot of solid, good-looking teams about and I’m sure the season will be full of twists and turns.
“It was another good crowd; every time I have been here it has been a great crowd and a good atmosphere. There was a warm welcome and it was lovely to see a bit about John Louis in the programme and on the front cover, that was a really nice touch, so respect for that. I really enjoyed my trip and thanks to all the travelling fans for coming and I hope we have sent you home happy.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Rising Star Thompson continued his terrific start to the season with seven points from reserve, but Doyle was too good for the Spires, dropping just one point to an opponent all night.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich collect two points and stay second with maximum points from their opening three meetings. Oxford remain top but suffer their first defeat of the season.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Oxford Spires at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 18th April in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
LEICESTER FIXTURE CHANGES
Our Knockout Cup quarter-final second leg against Leicester will now be on May 30 at Foxhall Stadium.
Our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R1 fixture at home to the Lions will now be on June 20.
A TRIBUTE TO JOHN LOUIS
By Peter Thorpe
The first time I came across the name John Louis was back in October 1962. I was reading the results of a Scramble meeting at Ayres Farm, Littleport, Cambs. The report read ‘A 21-year-old junior rider on a 250cc D.O.T. surprised a strong field of senior riders by taking second place overall in a three-race event. That junior was John Louis, and he continued to surprise in the world of scrambling over the next few years and picked up a few titles along the way.
The introduction of John Louis to Speedway is well documented elsewhere, his rapid rise to fame and his on-track achievements, both here and abroad only goes to endorse the thoughts of many. We were witnessing a rare talent, a racer joining the ranks of the very best in the sport in a remarkably short period of time.
John stayed loyal to Ipswich when he could have had the pick of almost any team in the country when his home club moved into the top division. That decision to stay with Ipswich helped the fairy-tale story of the Ipswich Speedway revival to continue. He had been breaking track records in the second division and now he was doing it in the first. An army of support had built for John and the team, it was a promoters delight to have Ipswich with John Louis, visit for league matches.
Off track John always had time for the fans wherever they were from, and that continued into his promoting days where he was just as popular as in his racing time.
Speedway supporters owe a debt of gratitude to JL for his ability to keep speedway running at Foxhall at times when it could easily have been lost.
The word legend gets handed out too easily but, the name John Louis sits very comfortably alongside Ivan Mauger, Ove Fundin, Hans Nielsen, Barry Briggs, Peter Collins. For John Charles Louis is a true speedway LEGEND never to be forgotten.
RACEDAY PREVIEW: OXFORD – ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1 (A)
By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R1 fixture with Oxford.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Oxford to face the Spires at the Oxford Stadium on Thursday 11th April in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership R1 fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
OXFORD: 1. Maciej Janowski 8.00 2. Charles Wright 6.20 3. Nicolai Klindt 6.68 4. Rohan Tungate 6.63 5. Chris Harris 6.89 © 6. Lewis Kerr 5.32 7. Ashton Boughen (RS). Team Manager: Peter Schroeck
IPSWICH: 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 10.22 2. Jordan Jenkins 4.37 3. Danny King 7.28 © 4. Adam Ellis 5.67 5. Jason Doyle 9.12 6. Keynan Rew 4.00 7. Dan Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: C. Turnbull
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Oxford | 3 | 7 |
| Ipswich | 2 | 4 |
| Belle Vue | 2 | 2 |
| Sheffield | 2 | 2 |
| Leicester | 2 | 2 |
| Birmingham | 4 | 1 |
| King’s Lynn | 1 | 0 |
TICKETS
Tickets are available to purchase online in advance here.
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches return to ROWE Motor Oil Premiership action on Thursday with a trip to top-flight newcomers Oxford.
The Witches have started the season strongly with two wins from two in the league at Foxhall and they have already tasted victory on the road with a win at Leicester in the first leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg tie. Thursday’s test promises to be a tough one with both teams yet to taste defeat in 2024.
The visitors are at full strength for this fixture, and it is a place Jordan Jenkins knows well with the youngster having ridden for Oxford in previous seasons.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“It is our first trip to Oxford for a very long time and I’m delighted to see them back in the league and doing so well since they re-opened a couple of seasons ago. It will be a new test for us, they have built a very good side and have started the season well, they look a very strong side. After winning at Leicester, I said to the boys if we can win there, we can win anywhere. We have shown our own strengths at the start of the season, and we will hope to carry that on at Oxford.
“It will be a new track for some of the boys and unusually in speedway the lesser experienced riders will have probably done more laps at the track than the more experienced guys. Jordan has raced at Oxford many times and hopefully his knowledge of the circuit can help us. I’m sure the top guys will quickly adapt to a different track and Keynan has the experience of learning new tracks last year, so it is another for him and hopefully he picks it up quickly because it could be an important role he has now he is down at number six. We have got a great bond going already throughout the team and I’m sure we will all work together to help each other out to get our heads round the track quickly.
“Last week we lost a true Ipswich legend in John Louis. To start a career so late and achieve so much is remarkable but to be so highly regarded by so many is even more remarkable. John set the standard for future Witches to follow, and we will continue to strive and achieve these standards.”
THE SPIRES
Oxford make their return to the top level of British Speedway for the first time since 2007 in what is an extremely positive news story for the sport. The club closed down that year and a wheel wasn’t turned in anger at the Oxford Stadium until the club returned in the Championship in 2022. The club run a team in each division of British Speedway, and it has been a dream return to the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership so far for the Spires as they sit top of the table with three wins from three.
The hosts have built a competitive team for 2024 with former Grand Prix star Maciej Janowski leading the side having made his return to racing in Britain for the first time since 2015. Chris Harris captains the team with Australian champion Rohan Tungate, former British champion Charles Wright and Nicolai Klindt completing a strong top five. Lewis Kerr is at reserve alongside Rising Star Ashton Boughen.
AWAY DAYS
An adult ticket costs £22 with accompanied children under 16 going free if bought in advance. There is a £2 price increase for adult tickets purchased on the day. Due to limited parking at the stadium, free parking will be available thanks to Unipart at their site just a short walk from the stadium (approx 800m) on a first come first served basis, please remember to select this option if required when purchasing your tickets as this will be required when arriving at the car park. A free shuttle bus service will be provided to and from the stadium from the Unipart car park site. Unipart postcode is OX4 2PG. Limited disabled car parking is available at the stadium; these spaces are on a first come first served basis. For further information head here.
For more information about the club head to Oxford’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
JOHN ‘TIGER’ LOUIS 1941-2024
Ipswich Speedway legend John ‘Tiger’ Louis has passed away at the age of 82.
The Ipswich-born rider joined the club in 1970 spending the majority of his career with the Witches and led the team to league and cup titles in the 70s. He became British champion in 1975 and on the world stage he finished third at Wembley Stadium in one of his four World Championship Finals.
Nicknamed ‘Tiger’ for his iconic leathers, John also represented England in the World Team Cup, winning gold three times. After his racing career, he became promoter at Foxhall before retiring from the role in 2019.
Everyone’s thoughts are with the Louis family at this time, John ‘Tiger’ Louis is a man this town will never forget.
IPSWICH V LEICESTER – POSTPONED
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches’ Knockout Cup fixture against Leicester on Thursday 4th April has been postponed due to rainfall late this afternoon not allowing the track enough time to dry out, with a decision made at 5.45pm on Thursday.
A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.
RACEDAY PREVIEW: LEICESTER – KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG (H)
By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Knockout Cup quarter-final second leg fixture with Leicester.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Leicester Lions at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 4th April in a Knockout Cup quarter-final second leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
IPSWICH: 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 10.22 2. Jordan Jenkins 4.37 3. Danny King 7.28 © 4. Adam Ellis 5.67 5. Jason Doyle 9.12 6. Keynan Rew 4.00 7. Dan Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
LEICESTER: 1. Max Fricke 8.84 © 2. Richard Lawson 6.67 3. Sam Masters 6.96 4. Luke Becker 6.95 5. Ryan Douglas 7.10 6. Drew Kemp 4.22 7. Joe Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Stewart Dickson
REFEREE: M. Bates
KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW
QUARTER-FINALS
First Leg: Belle Vue 49-41 Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield – Belle Vue
First Leg: Leicester 42-48 Ipswich. Second Leg: Ipswich – Leicester
TICKETS
Tickets are available to buy online (until 7pm on raceday) and on the gate and are priced at £23 for adults and £21 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 STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches race the decisive second leg fixture against Leicester on Thursday at Foxhall in the Knockout Cup quarter-final.
The two sides met on Monday at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena in the first leg, and it was the Witches who came away with a six-point lead after a terrific performance on the road maintained their 100% record in 2024. That advantage puts Ipswich in a strong position to progress to the semi-finals, but they know that Leicester have a team of riders capable of overturning the deficit at Foxhall.
The Witches line up the same as they did in the first leg where Dan Thompson continued his sensational start to the campaign scoring 9+1 from the Rising Star position and a repeat performance from the Suffolk side will see them move into the last four as they look to retain their title.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“Back to Foxhall on Thursday after a tight, hard-fought victory at Leicester on Monday and I’m sure the second leg will be no different. I am expecting a very tough, challenging meeting and I’m sure it will be an entertaining one.
“I know Stewart and Leicester will be coming to Ipswich to win and go through in the tie. They are capable of doing that and we will need to have the same determination as we did on Monday to get the job done and get through to the next round.”
THE LIONS
Leicester will be hurting after Monday’s first leg defeat and come to Foxhall knowing they must perform better and win by more than six points if they want to stay in the Knockout Cup. The Lions ran Ipswich close on their visits to Suffolk in 2023 but lost all three fixtures.
The visitors are packed with riders who tend to go well at Foxhall with Sam Masters in particular having enjoyed many high scores in Suffolk. They also have three former Witches returning in Richard Lawson, Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson who have all done plenty of laps at Foxhall.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY REPORT: LEICESTER 42-48 IPSWICH – KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER-FINAL FIRST LEG (A)
By Henry Chard
THE SCORES
LEICESTER 42: Max Fricke © 7, Richard Lawson 9+2, Sam Masters 10+1, Luke Becker 6+1, Ryan Douglas 7+1, Drew Kemp 3+1, Joe Thompson (RS) 0. Team Manager: Stewart Dickson
IPSWICH 48: Emil Sayfutdinov 11, Jordan Jenkins 1, Danny King © 6+2, Adam Ellis 5+1, Jason Doyle 11+1, Keynan Rew 5+1, Dan Thompson (RS) 9+1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: A. Steele
KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW
QUARTER-FINALS
First Leg: Belle Vue 49-41 Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield – Belle Vue
First Leg: Leicester 42-48 Ipswich. Second Leg: Ipswich – Leicester
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches continued their perfect start to 2024 after winning at Leicester in the first leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final on Monday.
Having won the competition in 2023, the Witches are determined to retain the title and having edged ahead during the mid-part of the meeting, they managed to take a two-point lead going into heat 15 before striking a maximum which gives them the six-point advantage going into the second leg at home. Jason Doyle top scored with 11+1.
The hosts struck an early blow in heat one with a 5-1 but the visitors responded immediately in heat two with a maximum of their own thanks to Dan Thompson and Keynan Rew. The points were shared in heat three before Doyle and Thompson combined for another maximum in heat four to put the away side 10-14 in front.
The scores were level again after heat five as the Lions recorded a 5-1 as Doyle won a shared heat six. There was another 3-3 in heat seven and Ipswich edged back in front in heat eight as Thompson took the chequered flag with Jordan Jenkins picking up a point for a 2-4 to go 23-25 ahead.
Doyle remained unbeaten with another three points in heat nine and the points were shared again in heat 10. Emil Sayfutdinov registered victory in heat 11 and with Thompson amongst the points it extended the Ipswich lead to four points. Leicester clawed two points back in heat 12 with a heat advantage to make the score 35-37 to Ipswich.
Sayfutdinov was the winner of a shared heat 13 and Rew took the win in heat 14 in a 3-3. The Suffolk side ensured they had a lead to take back to Foxhall for the second leg as Saytutdinov and Doyle raced to a maximum in the final race of the night to complete an impressive evening’s work.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s win against Leicester.
“I’m absolutely buzzing with tonight, Leicester are a very good team and it is as tough a draw as we could have got. To win the first leg by six points I am delighted with that and the start to the season we have had.
“Emil struggled at the start, but we covered that well and Dan Thompson has started the season absolutely flying and showed his liking for Leicester again tonight. He was absolutely superb for a Rising Star, but I think all the boys contributed again. Keynan winning heat 14 was a bit of a highlight, that was a great ride to see him improve. Jordan’s score didn’t reflect his performance and those last two rides were the level we know he can ride at, so I think his season has started as well now.
“Going into the fixture, I spoke about it before, it was one we could win there and one they will believe they can win at Foxhall. I’m delighted but we also know the job is far from done and Leicester are more than capable with their team, and we must perform better than we did against Birmingham last week because Leicester will be a tough test.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Thompson was superb once again from the Rising Star scoring 9+1, a vital contribution towards the victory.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich take a six-point lead back to Foxhall ahead of the second leg on Thursday.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Leicester Lions at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 4th April in the second leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final tie. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway
RACEDAY PREVIEW: LEICESTER – KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER-FINAL FIRST LEG (A)
By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg fixture with Leicester.
WHEN & WHERE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Leicester to face the Lions at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena on Monday 1st April in Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
LEICESTER: 1. Max Fricke 8.84 © 2. Richard Lawson 6.67 3. Sam Masters 6.96 4. Luke Becker 6.95 5. Ryan Douglas 7.10 6. Drew Kemp 4.22 7. Joe Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Stewart Dickson
IPSWICH: 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 10.22 2. Jordan Jenkins 4.37 3. Danny King 7.28 © 4. Adam Ellis 5.67 5. Jason Doyle 9.12 6. Keynan Rew 4.00 7. Dan Thompson (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: A. Steele
KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW
QUARTER-FINALS
Sheffield v Belle Vue
Ipswich v Leicester
TICKETS
Tickets are available to purchase online in advance here and on the gate.
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches begin their defence of the Knockout Cup against Leicester with the first leg of the quarter-final on Monday evening at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena.
The Witches won the competition in 2023 and met the Lions at the same stage of the cup during that run, winning both the home and away legs against the Lions. There are changes to the visitors’ line-up due to the latest averages released. Keynan Rew drops to reserve with Jordan Jenkins moving to number two whilst Adam Ellis is now at number four.
It will be Ipswich’s first away trip of 2024, having won both of their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership fixtures so far at Foxhall as they look to carry on that form on their travels and put themselves in a good position to advance to the next round in the second leg at Foxhall on Thursday.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“Next week is going to be very tough, it is a tough draw. We will go there knowing we had great results there last year, but they will be confident in the strength of their side, and they will be confident they can go a job at Foxhall too.
“They have lots of riders that ride Foxhall well, so we have got to go there on Monday and look to perform and win that first leg. The cup run last year was terrific and we want to carry that on and get through this tough tie and hopefully we can go on another run.
“We have known this is going to happen with the averages before the season started and the boys had a plan as we knew about it weeks ago. Jordan moves into the team and that shows the progress he has made over the last few years, to progress from Rising Star to the reserve berth, to number two. That is where you want your career to go, and it is great to see him progressing.
“Keynan has started the season well but a little spell at reserve should do him the world of good. I needed Adam to do a couple of meetings at number two, but he goes to number four now, and we will see how him and Danny get on as a partnership.”
THE LIONS
Leicester agonisingly missed out on the top four last season being pipped by Ipswich to the final spot for the play-offs and were also defeated by the Witches at the Knockout Cup quarter-final stage. The hosts will be looking to avoid history repeating itself in the cup and know they cannot afford defeat in their home leg this time around. The Lions won their 2024 opener on home shale, defeating the King’s Lynn Stars 47-42.
Stewart Dickson’s side have retained three of their 2023 side in Max Fricke, Richard Lawson and Drew Kemp whilst adding three former Wolverhampton riders over the winter in Sam Masters, Ryan Douglas and Luke Becker. Former Witch Joe Thompson is their Rising Star and will come up against his twin brother Dan on Monday.
AWAY DAYS
An adult ticket costs £22, concessions £20, children (6-17) £1 and children aged 5 and under go free. There will be 235 free car park spaces available at the stadium with further free car parking facilities on the Beaumont Shopping Complex (maximum time of 4 hours). Three Coach/Mini Bus spaces, 15 Disabled spaces available, 15 Motorcycle spaces, Taxi drop-off point. For travel information head here.
For more information about the club head to Leicester’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway