The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches have signed Joe Thompson to replace the injured Jack Thomas ahead of the 2023 season.
Thomas was the club’s ‘Rising Star’ for the new campaign but broke two vertebrae in his neck and two in his back in a crash whilst practicing at Scunthorpe, leaving him ruled out for the foreseeable future. We wish Jack all the best in his recovery.
Thompson is excited to be joining Ipswich and said it was an easy decision to join the club as he waited for a team spot in the top-flight.
“It was one of my intentions to do this year, but I didn’t get asked by any teams at the start of the year,” said Thompson. “I was happy with my new team Scunthorpe in the Championship and in the National League as well.
“Now, this is a new goal I have got and I’m looking to push forward. It is obviously one of the best teams to be a part of in the country and it wasn’t a hard decision at all, I’m glad to be a part of it.”
The 18-year-old is looking forward to having some practice laps at Foxhall before the competitive fixtures get underway.
“I have only ridden it a handful of times so press and practice day will be very valuable to me to get plenty of time on the track and learn the lines.
“Being part of the Premiership, it is such a professional part of the sport, and everyone is serious about their racing. It is about putting 110% into every single race and never giving up.”
The Nuneaton-born rider is hoping to learn plenty from some of the team’s more experienced riders and has targeted more consistency in the Premiership.
“It is going to be a great experience that I can learn from, and I’m really excited to be a part of such a great team of experienced riders.
“I always have goals for each year, I just want to keep improving my average in the National League and Championship, but I want to pick up points at Ipswich and try and be more consistent in the top league.”
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches rider Jack Thomas has broken two vertebrae in his neck and two in his back whilst practicing at Scunthorpe. We are awaiting a prognosis and wish Jack a speedy recovery.
British Speedway is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Morris as its Premiership Chief Executive Officer.
Former rider and manager Morris, who will continue as FIM Race Director at Grand Prix and World Cup events, takes on the newly created position with the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of Premiership business.
47-year-old Morris will be a major decision-maker at the top of the Premiership, both in terms of rulebook interpretation and race-night operations, and the specifics of his role also include an active involvement in the running of televised meetings.
BSP Ltd Director and Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “The Premiership CEO is a new role which we all agreed was very much needed and I think the timing is right, especially with what’s going on in the world of speedway.
“We want to enhance the professionalism and integrity of the league, as well as making it simple, transparent and fun for the fans to view and understand, and to improve the product and put British Speedway back at the top of the tree, where it did sit for many years.
“Phil is unquestionably the right man for the job. His grounding is in British Speedway, he loves British Speedway, and he also has one of the top positions in World Speedway, which made him the perfect candidate.
“He will be tasked with making sure the rulebook is as simple and easy to follow as possible, both for those involved within the sport and also for the fans, and that it is absolutely understood and adhered to.
“Phil will also take an active role in televised meetings. He will be on-site and assist with the presentation of those meetings to make sure they are as fluid as possible and that the format is rigidly stuck to. “The appointment has the full backing of the Board of the BSPL, and we’d also like to thank the other people who showed an interest in the position and were part of the process.
“We see this as an evolving role which will develop as the year goes on, but fundamentally we’ve brought in a top man to lead the Premiership and I think it’s a hugely positive move.
“Phil has seen all sides of the sport as a rider and a manager, he’s never stopped following British Speedway and he has the experience of what is probably for this sort of role, the top position in World Speedway.
“We couldn’t have a better guy on board, and as a league we are delighted with the appointment.”
Morris enjoyed a long and successful racing career over nearly 20 years, the majority of which were spent with Reading, and as a youngster he was part of the Racers’ British League Division One title-winning side in 1992.
After retirement, he team-managed Birmingham to top spot in the Elite League in 2013 before missing out in the Grand Final, and he also took joint charge of the flourishing British Youth set-up alongside current boss Neil Vatcher.
Since 2015 he has held the position of FIM Race Director and has officiated at over 80 GPs along with the World Cup, Speedway of Nations and GP Challenge.
Morris said: “There are three words associated with this role that stand out for me: integrity, transparency and perception, and all of those are big things for me which I feel need to be improved.
“I’m not here to lie to anyone and I’ve already made it clear that I’ve seen some events and incidents over the last few years that I believe we can improve on a lot – and I’m saying ‘we’ here because I’m now going to be part of it.
“I want to do my very best to try and lift levels across many different facets of the Premiership, from club officials and regulations to the visuality of the events we’re staging.
“Hopefully that will then filter down to all levels of speedway, so even though my job is Premiership CEO, it’s something which can benefit British Speedway as a whole.
“I’ve been very lucky to work at the highest level of the sport, so my eyes are probably quite focused on good quality levels of the product, and I’ve always said that speedway is a good product.
“We’ve just got to package it right and make sure other things are acceptable along the way, and I’m very much looking forward to getting started.”
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches have completed their 2023 team with the return of club asset Danyon Hume.
Hume started last season as Ipswich’s number eight before working his way into the team and says the deal to return to Foxhall Stadium has been a long time in the making.
“It’s been ongoing since the end of last season,” said Hume. “Now they have got this deal over the line with Emil (Sayfutdinov) it opened the door for a job for me. I knew about it as I have been speaking with Chris (Louis) and Ritchie (Hawkins) the whole way through every week speaking about the ifs and buts. It is all looking promising, and they have done well to get it over the line and I’m grateful to have landed a job out of it.”
The 26-year-old is hoping that 2022 was a turning point for his career and is excited to see what the 2023 team can achieve.
“Last year was hopefully a turning point in my career, I started off as number eight and wanted to get into the team and I did that pretty quickly and stayed there. Being in the top league is another stepping stone, I enjoyed it and did enough to show Chris and the rest of the guys what I can do, so to be there this year is great.
“The team is awesome, as soon as Chris mentioned Emil was in the team as well, that strengthens us right up. We did well last year with the team we had, we had our injuries, and these things happen, but we are even stronger this year. They have put together a winning team and hopefully we can get the job done.”
The Buckinghamshire-born rider is doubling-up with Redcar in the Championship and is keen to keep on enjoying the sport.
“I’m riding at Redcar this year and I am number four for them, so every year it is getting better and better and I am playing a more important role in the team. This year I want to do what I did last year, keep on improving and enjoying it, enjoying it is a big thing. I just want to go out there and beat the better riders and make a name for myself.”
With the season fast approaching, Hume is finishing off his preparation for the new campaign and is looking forward to using a new engine.
“We are getting the bikes finished off and there is a couple of things going on behind closed doors, the season doesn’t really ever stop, your mind is on the job from the minute the season ends until it starts. I’ve ordered a new engine which I am excited to use, so hopefully all the organisation will help me to become the rider I want to be.”
The 2023 Meet the Riders event will take place on Thursday 16th March at Venue 16.
The evening will include the presentation of the 2023 Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches by Kevin Long and the announcement of team riding order by Ritchie Hawkins. The new race suits will be on display and there will be a raffle but please note, there will be no food this year. Any prizes donated for the raffle would be greatly appreciated.
After the presentations, there will be plenty of time for fans to mingle with the riders and management team – don’t miss a great opportunity to meet the new Witches and catch up with some old ones as well! Plus, have your photo taken with your favourite rider.
Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, admittance costs £5 and is strictly by ticket only. Tickets can be obtained via post (cheques payable to Save our Speedway) enclosing a SAE from ISSC, 7 Penshurst Road, Ipswich, IP3 8QZ. The PayPal option is available here.
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches are thrilled to announce the signing of former world number three Emil Sayfutdinov for the 2023 season, subject to BSPL approval and paperwork.
The 33-year-old says it has been a long process to get to this point and praised Chris Louis’ hard work in getting the deal done.
“I think Chris is happiest, only kidding,” said Sayfutdinov. “I think there is a long process to go, I remember Chris calling in November asking about the possibility. We didn’t answer straight away and thought about it for a few days but then we called Chris to ask how the situation looked and all the problems he could face.
“He said he thought he could fix that and then the door was open to be back in England. Chris has been working very hard to get everything done with the BSPL and the ACU, so it looks like everything is coming together and that I will come to Ipswich for press and practice.”
The former European champion is looking forward to his return to British racing and is hoping to win a Premiership title with the Witches.
“Chris was very determined to get me back and only he called us when he heard that I will be back in speedway for 2023. It was Chris’ idea to call us, it looks like British speedway is quite organised now and the schedule looks organised with Mondays and Thursdays which suits me really good. I will only race in Poland, so that will only be Fridays and Sundays. It doesn’t look like I will compete in any other meetings in Poland, so if I have the chance to be on the bike more often, I will do it.
“One year without racing, I want to be back more often on the bike and more meetings will make me sharper for Poland and England. I have won team championships in most of the leagues, in Poland, Sweden and other countries a few times but never one in England, so maybe this will be the season I have a chance to win the team championship in England.”
Sayfutdinov, a Polish citizen competing on a Polish licence, was forced to sit out racing in 2022 after Russian riders were suspended by the FIM due to the war in Ukraine but he has been keeping as fit as possible in that period.
“I was physically training every day and when I didn’t do that, I had many practice sessions on MX bikes locally in Poland. I have also been on speedway bikes over the year but only practice, I have always hoped I would be back for 2023 and when the decision was announced in October last year, I was very happy that I will have a chance to be back on the bike again.”
The multiple Grand Prix winner is looking forward to linking up with Jason Doyle in Suffolk for the 2023 campaign.
“I have raced with Jason in Leszno for one season, and I know him from the Grand Prix for many years. I think I first met him in some practice days in Lonigo many years ago, so I know him, and I also know Keynan Rew from Leszno as well, I met him when he was 16. And I know of Danny (King) from my last spell in England and from his Grand Prix appearance in Cardiff. The speedway family is very small, and we know each other, so I will have no problem and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do together as a team.”
The Speedway of Nations winner will continue his preparation for the new season in Spain next week with his Polish club Torun before heading to England.
“On Saturday, the Torun team are going to a training camp in Spain which I will return from on 4th March. I will spend that week with my Polish team and then I will try to be back on track in Torun and then we will fly into England for press and practice. Then we will follow the English schedule and after that the Polish schedule. I will do all of the challenge meetings in Poland and stuff like that, we are pretty organised with the English calendar, so it suits me very well. It is a bit more work for the mechanic because we need to build an extra bike and get the equipment ready, but we are pretty much ready with that and will have everything done and dusted for the middle of March.”
The staff signing-on night is on Thursday 23rd February from 7.00pm at Ipswich Sports Club, Henley Road. We invite all speedway staff and officials to attend.
RN Euston & Scott Properties will continue as partner sponsors of the 2023 team after renewing their sponsorship with the club.
Promoter Chris Louis is thrilled to have both companies supporting the club for another season and believes the two businesses are a good fit with the club.
“It is such a good fit for the club because it is a family-run club that relies on the people who have volunteered around the club for the last 40 years in some cases,” said Louis. “To have backing of local firms that are kind of run the same way, they are both family-run businesses with the ethos on quality of service and customer service being key. It is a great fit and it feels right for the club to have those people on board, and we are very thankful and appreciative of their input and support.”
The former captain says there is a passion for speedway at both RN Euston and Scott Properties and the ambition is shared to win the Premiership title in 2023.
“Both families are interested in the sport and are behind the team and that always plays a massive part for the riders when they know these people are backing them and share their ambition to win trophies, it adds a lot. There is more ambition around the club with riders and sponsors to put a trophy in the cabinet than all the time I have been involved on the managerial side as opposed to a rider.”
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, and respected Strategic Land Promoter operating throughout East Anglia and the South East of England.
“The focus they put on what they deliver for their customers and how they do it, they are about old school service and looking after the customer and making sure they get what they want. That makes them fantastic people to work with because they are supportive, that’s how they work and how they are with us, supporting us all the way.”
Louis also provided an update on how team building is going as they edge closer to completing the side.
“I understand fans’ frustration that things this year are moving much slower than we are used to in terms of completing the team. It is very important for the club, sponsors, riders and fans that we do our upmost to get the best we can and to entertain the fans and put together a side that has the best chance of winning. It is frustrating that it is taking longer than normal but there are reasons for that. Things have sped up a little in the last few days and we remain on target to hopefully update the fans in another week’s time.”
The 2023 side will continue to be known as the Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ 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 currently the Tru Mix Witches.
Promoter Chris Louis is delighted to have the company on board for another season and highlighted the important role sponsorship plays.
“Sponsorship is the lifeline of every speedway club,” said Louis. “Particularly these days, so to have a hugely successful family run business backing us is great. We have got such a great relationship with them, their business ties in so well with us from a practical sense as well as the support they give us. We are often in need of aggregates, machines and they always have the best, so it works really well for us.”
The former captain added that the company’s support is not only financial with Guy’s passion for speedway and the Witches going back to his childhood.
“Guy and Jake (Nicholls) and the rest of the staff are hugely supportive, there are always staff and customers with them and there is always 20-30 people up there every week supporting us. They are very active in that sense and doing a deal is pretty straight forward.
“Guy first of all is a massive fan of bike racing and in particular speedway, it is something he grew up with in the town and for that reason he has always been around the sport. Supporting, sponsoring individual riders over the years, going way back to the Americans and different people. His history within the sport and Ipswich in particular goes back a very long way.”
Louis says that the title sponsors are just as keen as everyone else at the club to see the Witches lift the Premiership trophy in 2023.
“For all that I have said about Guy and Jake, the family and the business, they are winners, they want to be the best in what they do, and they want us to be the best. They are dead set on putting that Premiership trophy in the cabinet along with Ritchie (Hawkins), myself, and the riders we have every year. That is always the intention, they are so supportive and want the best for us.
“They were made up to be led by a rider last year like Jason (Doyle) and to have him back is great. That’s partly why it is taking us a while to complete the team and we hope we can update everyone in the next couple of weeks with what is happening there, we are striving to be the best team we can.”
The fixtures for the 2023 Premiership season have been released, and the Witches start the year with a home meeting against Peterborough at Foxhall in March.
Our Knockout Cup campaign begins later that month as we take on Leicester in a two-legged fixture.
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 cut-off for completion of Premiership fixtures is 31st August, with the month of September reserved for the play-offs and the Knockout Cup Final.
The Premiership Pairs continues this season with a reduced calendar of three rounds at Wolverhampton, King’s Lynn and Ipswich.
The British Final will take place on 14th August at The National Speedway Stadium.
Live Premiership coverage on Eurosport and discovery+ will commence on Monday 22nd May, enabling a consistent run of televised fixtures over the majority of weeks building up to the play-offs, followed by live coverage of all the semi-final and Grand Final action in September.
All fixtures are subject to change.
Our full fixture list for the 2023 season can be found here.
