Ipswich Witches Speedway
  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
    • League Tables
    • Archive Results
  • Team
    • Rider Results
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
    • Info
    • Honours
    • Club Officials
    • Related Links
  • Contact
    • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors
    • Become A Sponsor
Ipswich Witches Speedway
  • Ipswich Witches Speedway
  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • League Tables
  • Archive Results
  • Team
  • Rider Results
  • Media
  • Club
  • Info
  • Honours
  • Club Officials
  • Related Links
  • Admission
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors
  • Become A Sponsor

WITCHES TO RIDE IN SGB CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2017

Posted on

3 November, 2016

British Speedway is ready to bounce back in 2017 after the biggest revamp of the sport in modern history with the Witches riding in the newly named SGB Championship (formerly the Premier League).

Club bosses have spent three days voting through plans to restructure league racing in the UK which sees both Rye House and second tier champions Somerset taking the plunge with promotion to the top flight.

And there’s good news for fans of troubled Leicester and Belle Vue with both clubs, who boast a rich heritage, ready to come to the tapes again and at the top level.

Workington are expected to take their place in the Premiership, but this is subject to confirmation.

The leagues have been rebranded Speedway Great Britain (SGB) Premiership and SGB Championship and promotion and relegation has been introduced with the leagues coming closer together.

The winners of the Championship play-offs will race the Premiership’s bottom club to decide who rides in the 2018 SGB Premiership.

The same rules and race format, last year’s PL programme, will apply to both leagues. That means tactical rides are available when 10-points down from heats 5-12.

The injury rider-replacement rule will also now be in place in both leagues.

And the season will start with Knockout Cup meetings at both levels before the launch of the exciting new leagues.

All riders will now have one average, based on Premier League figures, for team building purposes with a 50-point limit for the top division and 40 for the Championship.

It means riders who only raced in the Elite League last season will see their average increased by 1.4 to bring them in line with Premier League averages.

The only difference in team building rules between the leagues is that Championship clubs must include a British youngster with a three-point average.

And in a bid to help young riders get team spots, any rider who hasn’t achieved a three-point average will come in on a minimum of 2.

No team changes will be permitted in either league after July 31.

The British Speedway Promoters’ Association also intend to work with the new Gerhard engine after a visit to the Switzerland base of the GTR. This will reduce costs for riders with engines typically needing a fraction of the servicing of other engines. More details will follow once the arrangement is concluded.

Promoters feel this dramatic revamp was necessary in a financially challenging climate and whilst chairman Keith Chapman admits there is an element of cost cutting there is plenty for fans and sponsors to be excited about.

He said: “This was probably the best AGM I’ve been to in all my time in the sport.

“There was a genuine desire to try and change things and secure the future of league racing in the UK. I certainly think we have done that and I’m very excited about the months ahead.

“Every promoter acknowledged something had to be done after some very difficult times for the sport – now we’ve done something and I’m looking forward to a bright future.”

Vice Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “I believe we have achieved a total restructuring of British Speedway.

“We have created leagues which are sustainable and have a structure with promotion and relegation and the same rules.

“Now we have rebranded the sport, it’s time to deliver.”

SGB PREMIERSHIP 2017: Belle Vue, Coventry, King’s Lynn, Leicester, Poole, Rye House, Somerset, Swindon, Wolverhampton.

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Newcastle, Peterborough, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Workington* (*subject to confirmation).

Two home, two away, top four into play-offs.

KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW:
PREMIERSHIP: Preliminary: Somerset v Leicester. 1st Round: Rye House v Swindon, King’s Lynn v Leicester or Somerset, Wolverhampton v Coventry, Belle Vue v Poole.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Preliminary: Peterborough v Redcar, Workington v Newcastle. 1st Round: Scunthorpe v Peterborough or Redcar, Glasgow v Workington or Newcastle, Berwick v Ipswich, Edinburgh v Sheffield.

MAJOR EVENTS VENUES:
BRITISH FINAL: TBC
PREMIERSHIP RIDERS’ INDIVIDUAL: Belle Vue
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS: Rye House
CHAMPIONSHIP RIDERS’ INDIVIDUAL: Glasgow
CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS: Somerset
CHAMPIONSHIP FOURS: Peterborough

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Keith Chapman (Chairman), Rob Godfrey (Vice-Chairman), Chris Van Straaten, George English, Colin Pratt.

Recent Post

  • RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (H)
  • RACEDAY REPORT | BELLE VUE 48–42 IPSWICH
  • RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (A)
  • RACEDAY REPORT | IPSWICH 43–47 SHEFFIELD
  • ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL DATES CONFIRMED

Search Categories

  • 2016 & 2017 Previews
  • 2016 & 2017 Reports
  • 2016 News
  • 2017 News
  • 2018 News
  • 2018 Previews
  • 2018 Reports
  • 2019 News
  • 2019 Previews
  • 2019 Reports
  • 2020 British Final
  • 2020 News
  • 2021 News
  • 2021 Previews
  • 2021 Reports
  • 2022 News
  • 2022 Previews
  • 2022 Reports
  • 2023 News
  • 2023 Previews
  • 2023 Reports
  • 2024 News
  • 2024 Previews
  • 2024 Reports
  • 2025 News
  • 2025 Previews
  • 2025 Reports
  • Aaron Summers
  • Adam Ellis
  • Anders Rowe
  • Ben Barker
  • Cameron Heeps
  • Chris Harris
  • Chris Louis
  • Competitions
  • Connor Mountain
  • Coty Garcia
  • Craig Cook
  • Dan Thompson
  • Danny Ayres
  • Danny King
  • Danyon Hume
  • David Bellego
  • David Wallinger
  • Drew Kemp
  • Edward Kennett
  • Emil Sayfutdinov
  • Erik Riss
  • Ipswich Town Football Club
  • Jack Thomas
  • Jake Allen
  • James Sarjeant
  • Jason Crump
  • Jason Doyle
  • Jason Edwards
  • Joe Jacobs
  • Joe Thompson
  • Jonas Jeppesen
  • Jordan Jenkins
  • Jordan Stewart
  • Justin Sedgmen
  • Keynan Rew
  • Krystian Pieszczek
  • Kyle Newman
  • Mark Riss
  • Michael Härtel
  • Morten Risager
  • Nathan Greaves
  • Nico Covatti
  • Nicolai Klindt
  • Niels-Kristian Iversen
  • Oliver Greenwood
  • Paul Starke
  • ReRun Productions
  • Richard Lawson
  • Ritchie Hawkins
  • Rohan Tungate
  • Rory Schlein
  • Supporters Club
  • Tai Woffinden
  • Tom Brennan
  • Track Shop
  • Troy Batchelor
  • Tru Mix
  • Tru Plant
  • Tru7 Group

Find Previous Articles

WITCHES TO RIDE IN SGB CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2017

Posted on

3 November, 2016

British Speedway is ready to bounce back in 2017 after the biggest revamp of the sport in modern history with the Witches riding in the newly named SGB Championship (formerly the Premier League).

Club bosses have spent three days voting through plans to restructure league racing in the UK which sees both Rye House and second tier champions Somerset taking the plunge with promotion to the top flight.

And there’s good news for fans of troubled Leicester and Belle Vue with both clubs, who boast a rich heritage, ready to come to the tapes again and at the top level.

Workington are expected to take their place in the Premiership, but this is subject to confirmation.

The leagues have been rebranded Speedway Great Britain (SGB) Premiership and SGB Championship and promotion and relegation has been introduced with the leagues coming closer together.

The winners of the Championship play-offs will race the Premiership’s bottom club to decide who rides in the 2018 SGB Premiership.

The same rules and race format, last year’s PL programme, will apply to both leagues. That means tactical rides are available when 10-points down from heats 5-12.

The injury rider-replacement rule will also now be in place in both leagues.

And the season will start with Knockout Cup meetings at both levels before the launch of the exciting new leagues.

All riders will now have one average, based on Premier League figures, for team building purposes with a 50-point limit for the top division and 40 for the Championship.

It means riders who only raced in the Elite League last season will see their average increased by 1.4 to bring them in line with Premier League averages.

The only difference in team building rules between the leagues is that Championship clubs must include a British youngster with a three-point average.

And in a bid to help young riders get team spots, any rider who hasn’t achieved a three-point average will come in on a minimum of 2.

No team changes will be permitted in either league after July 31.

The British Speedway Promoters’ Association also intend to work with the new Gerhard engine after a visit to the Switzerland base of the GTR. This will reduce costs for riders with engines typically needing a fraction of the servicing of other engines. More details will follow once the arrangement is concluded.

Promoters feel this dramatic revamp was necessary in a financially challenging climate and whilst chairman Keith Chapman admits there is an element of cost cutting there is plenty for fans and sponsors to be excited about.

He said: “This was probably the best AGM I’ve been to in all my time in the sport.

“There was a genuine desire to try and change things and secure the future of league racing in the UK. I certainly think we have done that and I’m very excited about the months ahead.

“Every promoter acknowledged something had to be done after some very difficult times for the sport – now we’ve done something and I’m looking forward to a bright future.”

Vice Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “I believe we have achieved a total restructuring of British Speedway.

“We have created leagues which are sustainable and have a structure with promotion and relegation and the same rules.

“Now we have rebranded the sport, it’s time to deliver.”

SGB PREMIERSHIP 2017: Belle Vue, Coventry, King’s Lynn, Leicester, Poole, Rye House, Somerset, Swindon, Wolverhampton.

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Newcastle, Peterborough, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Workington* (*subject to confirmation).

Two home, two away, top four into play-offs.

KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW:
PREMIERSHIP: Preliminary: Somerset v Leicester. 1st Round: Rye House v Swindon, King’s Lynn v Leicester or Somerset, Wolverhampton v Coventry, Belle Vue v Poole.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Preliminary: Peterborough v Redcar, Workington v Newcastle. 1st Round: Scunthorpe v Peterborough or Redcar, Glasgow v Workington or Newcastle, Berwick v Ipswich, Edinburgh v Sheffield.

MAJOR EVENTS VENUES:
BRITISH FINAL: TBC
PREMIERSHIP RIDERS’ INDIVIDUAL: Belle Vue
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS: Rye House
CHAMPIONSHIP RIDERS’ INDIVIDUAL: Glasgow
CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS: Somerset
CHAMPIONSHIP FOURS: Peterborough

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Keith Chapman (Chairman), Rob Godfrey (Vice-Chairman), Chris Van Straaten, George English, Colin Pratt.

Recent Post

  • RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (H)
  • RACEDAY REPORT | BELLE VUE 48–42 IPSWICH
  • RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (A)
  • RACEDAY REPORT | IPSWICH 43–47 SHEFFIELD
  • ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL DATES CONFIRMED

Search Categories

  • 2016 & 2017 Previews
  • 2016 & 2017 Reports
  • 2016 News
  • 2017 News
  • 2018 News
  • 2018 Previews
  • 2018 Reports
  • 2019 News
  • 2019 Previews
  • 2019 Reports
  • 2020 British Final
  • 2020 News
  • 2021 News
  • 2021 Previews
  • 2021 Reports
  • 2022 News
  • 2022 Previews
  • 2022 Reports
  • 2023 News
  • 2023 Previews
  • 2023 Reports
  • 2024 News
  • 2024 Previews
  • 2024 Reports
  • 2025 News
  • 2025 Previews
  • 2025 Reports
  • Aaron Summers
  • Adam Ellis
  • Anders Rowe
  • Ben Barker
  • Cameron Heeps
  • Chris Harris
  • Chris Louis
  • Competitions
  • Connor Mountain
  • Coty Garcia
  • Craig Cook
  • Dan Thompson
  • Danny Ayres
  • Danny King
  • Danyon Hume
  • David Bellego
  • David Wallinger
  • Drew Kemp
  • Edward Kennett
  • Emil Sayfutdinov
  • Erik Riss
  • Ipswich Town Football Club
  • Jack Thomas
  • Jake Allen
  • James Sarjeant
  • Jason Crump
  • Jason Doyle
  • Jason Edwards
  • Joe Jacobs
  • Joe Thompson
  • Jonas Jeppesen
  • Jordan Jenkins
  • Jordan Stewart
  • Justin Sedgmen
  • Keynan Rew
  • Krystian Pieszczek
  • Kyle Newman
  • Mark Riss
  • Michael Härtel
  • Morten Risager
  • Nathan Greaves
  • Nico Covatti
  • Nicolai Klindt
  • Niels-Kristian Iversen
  • Oliver Greenwood
  • Paul Starke
  • ReRun Productions
  • Richard Lawson
  • Ritchie Hawkins
  • Rohan Tungate
  • Rory Schlein
  • Supporters Club
  • Tai Woffinden
  • Tom Brennan
  • Track Shop
  • Troy Batchelor
  • Tru Mix
  • Tru Plant
  • Tru7 Group

Find Previous Articles

Find Us

Address
Ipswich Speedway
Foxhall Stadium
Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5TL

Contact
Email: enquiries@ipswichwitches.co
Phone: 07859 802828

Pages

  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Team
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors

Other Pages

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Find Us

Address
Ipswich Speedway
Foxhall Stadium
Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5TL

Contact
Email: enquiries@ipswichwitches.co
Phone: 07859 802828

Pages

  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Team
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors

Other Pages

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Find Us

Address
Ipswich Speedway
Foxhall Stadium
Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5TL

Contact
Email: enquiries@ipswichwitches.co
Phone: 07859 802828

Pages

  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Team
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors

Other Pages

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Copyright ® 2025

Ipswich Witches Speedway

powered by Painting Pixels Ltd.

Ipswich Witches Speedway
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}