Ipswich star Jason Edwards paid tribute to new Tru7 Group Witches promoters Richard Coleman and Andrew Chisholm and admitted “it’s good to be part of two really professional sides.”
Edwards, who also competes for Redcar in the Cab Direct Championship, faces a stern test when the Witches take on Belle Vue in Rowe Motor Oil Premiership action on Thursday.
Speedway GP stars Brady Kurtz and Dan Bewley lead the Aces into what’s expected to be a close contest, but Billericay-born racer Edwards will hope to build on a strong start to 2026 with the Witches.
It’s clear he is enjoying life at Foxhall, having helped Ipswich to Rowe Motor Oil Premiership glory at the end of last season.
He couldn’t be happier at his local top-flight team as they enter a new era under the ownership of Speedway GP parent company Mayfield.
Edwards said: “Generally, the atmosphere at both my clubs, Ipswich and Redcar, has been really good. It’s good to be part of two really professional sides.
“That’s massive as a rider. It makes you look forward to going. When you have a group of people around you at both clubs that you look forward to being around, it does make a difference. There is nothing worse than being part of a team where you just turn up, sit in the corner and go home. It’s awful.
“The other thing that has been really good with Ipswich is if Andrew or Richard say they are going to do something, the following week, it has been put in place. That never happens in speedway. Everything they are doing they follow through on. From the start of the year to now, there have been big improvements. It will keep getting better, especially for the fans.”
Edwards only joined the Witches towards the tail end of 2025, coming in as an injury replacement for Jordan Jenkins, who returns as a guest to cover for the suspended Philip Hellstrom-Bangs against the Aces.
While Edwards enjoyed being part of Ipswich’s title celebrations at the end of last year, he’s pleased to be in the side from the off this time around.
Edwards, who also won the Premiership with Sheffield in 2023, said: “It was brilliant to be part of winning the league and experience it – there are not many riders who can say they have.
“It’s a massive thing to have achieved, but it would be nice to do it from the start with Ipswich this year – that’s the plan.
“I’ve had a really good start to the season. I’ve had a couple of not-so-great meetings recently, but the nice thing with speedway is you are always jumping into another meeting – they come one after the other.
“I’ve been happy. It has been my best start to a year, which is a big positive thing. But there is still a lot to improve on.”
The Witches are bidding to overturn their 51-39 loss in Manchester on April 20 as they aim to capture the aggregate bonus point. While Jenkins comes into the Ipswich team, Lewis Kerr steps in for Belle Vue, replacing injured former Speedway GP winner Peter Kildemand.
Advance tickets for Thursday’s showdown with Belle Vue are available online HERE now, with cash and card payments also accepted at the Foxhall turnstiles on race day. For those unable to make the trip, Thursday’s meeting can be streamed live on the British Speedway Network (BSN) HERE.
STARTING LINE-UPS
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES: 1. Tom Brennan, 2. Danny King (captain), 3. Richard Lawson, 4. Scott Nicholls, 5. Tobiasz Musielak, 6. Jordan Jenkins (guest), 7. Jason Edwards.
BELLE VUE ACES: 1. Brady Kurtz (captain), 2. Norick Blodorn, 3. Lewis Kerr (guest), 4. Zach Cook, 5. Dan Bewley, 6. Tate Zischke, 7. Will Cairns.