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Promoter Chris Louis plans to take time away from speedway once the sale of Premiership champions Ipswich Witches is complete. Louis hopes to be able to confirm the name of the buyers within the next two weeks. He put the Witches up for sale in November after they beat Leicester Lions to win the title for the first time in 27 years, and it is now going through due process. "Once we're in a position where the sale is complete then everything will move very quickly," Louis told BBC Radio Suffolk. "I had two or three other offers that didn't suit me personally or my vision of putting the club in safe hands. "It's unfortunate because it feels like the club is so far behind the other teams coming into 2026, but I'm very proud of the fact that we've found what I believe to be the right owners and hopefully it all goes through smoothly." Ipswich Witches agree sale to new owner Published 3 days ago Doyle confirms GB speedway exit with Ipswich up for sale Published 11 December 2025 Ipswich have confirmed their place in what, at the moment, will be a five-team Premiership this year but have yet to finalise a rider roster. "The way I've done things in the last few years, season ticket sales would have started at the beginning of December and the team would have been announced before Christmas. "It's different in 2026 but it's to be expected, it's a big thing to sell a business and it takes a bit of work with all the due diligence to do. "But I think we've found the right people for the club, I don't think it could be in better hands and I'm excited to see what they do with it and what the future holds." Louis plans to attend meetings at Foxhall Stadium in the new season but does not, at present, intend to have any direct involvement in the sport. "I received an offer from a Polish club three days after putting the club up for sale but it would have meant far too big a life change for me, moving to Poland," he added. "I want out of the sport, it's time for a change. I'm looking forward to a different lifestyle, I won't be travelling around quite as much. No firm plans yet." Chris Louis was speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk's Wayne Bavin

Jammy dodgers were what they were hoping for but when garibaldi came up as an option most round the table thought that was the new Italian track hosting a GP. Another promoter thought the Penguins were the Icelandic national team. Just shows what the British fans have to contend with. Roll on the end of the season and the contrived play offs. Home and away twice with an aggregate bonus point for finishing third out of two. Yep sums up speedway in the UK. Did someone mention Fred Carno

Almost every contributor on here can see the problems looming for the sport but those in charge of its destiny are not doing too much to keep the fan base onside and give some ideas as to how things might change. An announcement following the AGM then radio silence. No provisional fixture list, no details of the new competition, no more news about the mystery 6th club and none of this can help riders, sponsors etc. plan for the coming season and it must have a negative impact on season ticket sales. With the lack of clarity is any wonder some supporters are disillusioned with the sport and riders have opted to ply their trade elsewhere. You would have thought that some press releases would have been forthcoming even it was only to update of progress or otherwise of changes which may at least placate some of the doubters. The BSPL really have not got a clue when it comes to taking care of the fan base. If they are unsure as to what to do might I suggest they take a look at Poland, Sweden and Denmark all of whom are way ahead of the UK.

What about Fredrik Lindgren. I believe he is giving Swedish racing a miss. Janowski is signed up for three teams I believe so he would not be available to race in UK.

Not sure about Belle Vue but the figures published are as follows: Warsaw 48k , Vojens 19.90k , Wroclaw 13.50k, Torun (SoN & SoN2) 13.10k, Gorzow 12.50k, Prague 11.50k (inc SGP3), Manchester 11.50, Melilla 8.70k, Landshut 7.8k and Riga (inc SGP 2) 6.70k Appreciate what you say about the venues but it does seem that live attendances might be in decline and that is not good news if the plans were to spread it around other non European stadia. Maybe fans are tired of the format and that in reality you are not seeing the top sixteen riders in the world. Whatever the reasons it is failing to ignite the enthusiasm which once surrounded the world championship.

In this week’s Star they have published the attendance figures for all the GPs and coming out on top was Warsaw with 48k. All the rest were under 20k with Manchester getting a combined 11.5k for the two days. Three GPs got under 10k. With all the costs involved etc it is a wonder anyone can make it pay. For the sports premier event you have to say the attendance figures are poor.

It seems that DPP who the planning agents are claiming that they have satisfied all the requirements for the redevelopment of the Abbey stadium even though the status of the Studley is unknown. Interesting article in this weeks Star and some of their arguments including using the current state of the sport in this country to justify why permission should be given. The one hope is that the Council stick to their guns and refused to budge on the issue of a replacement facility. Sad that people like Clarke Osborne are allowed to walk on this earth.

No mention of TV or Redknapp and co or what are to be the contributions of those who hold the rights to speedway in the UK or the plans for reviving the sport in the UK. No mention of what was behind the delay in coming up with something that has not really changed the set up from 2025 other than two teams are not competing. It would seem that the opportunity for change which the sport needs was lost post Covid and again they have settled with basically the same old scenario. You really do have to wonder what makes the governing body tick. As to plans beyond 2026, who knows other than the fact that collectively the headless chickens at the BSPL could not run a p.ss up in a brewery. Oh the joy of supporting speedway in the UK. Roll on the Polish season starting and something professional rather than the Mickey Mouse arrangement that prevails on these shores.

Good news that the Witches are coming to the tapes and hopefully now some announcements will be made over ownership and how the future of the club has been/is being secured. I suspect that one or two of last year’s team will don the witches race jackets and it will be interesting to see what the other tournament is over and above the league meetings and KO cup. It would perhaps be better if the season started in April/May and finished in September and outside this clubs run individual meetings or fill in with NDL meetings which are the future of the sport.

I think it will be a case of the headless chickens syndrome. Crisis, mismanagement and incompetence sum up the way those in charge have attempted to control and run the sport. Sad to say that the grass routes of the sport and fans UK wide have been shafted by those in charge and treated with so much contempt you wonder how they have the audacity to charge anyone to watch a meeting. The BSPL have failed the sport, the riders who are left high and dry as they cannot agree deals with sponsors etc because of the lack of decision making and ultimately the supporters who you wonder why they bother attending a meeting when you are ignored and have no voice and those that run the clubs take your money but really could not care less about the customer base. A case of sod you but gives us your money.

Hang on, do you have inside information? Five brave warriors!!. I think you will find it on the Comedy Channel. It is the new series of a The Fools and Money are soon Parted. BSN will be showing highlights of the biscuit eating competition that will be held at the same event. All in all an exciting day of live and recorded entertainment that will surpass anything seen on the track.

He could always attend via a video link. If the trip had been some while in the planning I doubt he would have known at the time of booking flights etc. that the AGM was going to be put back. A family trip to Australia is unlikely to be a last minute booking. Still I am sure those in charge have all areas covered and know exactly what they are doing but have just got to try and put into words that they are up sh.te creek without the proverbial paddle. Press release late on the 6th should be eagerly awaited by those who believe in miracles. For the rest of us another borefest of excuses, plans and rule changes.

I guess any new speedway track would cost a fortune but I was thinking more that as an investment its ability to capture some speedway supporters from the local vicinity is perhaps better than some other options but then again I could be way off the mark. Anyway enough on the topic of Stansted as clearly it is bollocks and time to move onto the next guess as to which venue could be appropriate to promote speedway and not go bust half way through a season unless the backers enjoy throwing good money after bad. The sport is on life support but the one hope for Ipswich making a comeback is if a buyer has been found and some of those Ipswich riders from last year who have not signed for other clubs are still available to form the core of a new team perhaps with some up and coming Poles. Happy new year to all and fingers crossed that 2026 has something more to offer than what appears to be the case as at today.

Thanks. I was only going by the pictures on-line and was thinking that it was nearer traditional speedway following but take your point. If it could be developed and start off like say a Workington did with basic facilities and grow sharing with speedway like a few other tracks it might not be too much of a problem providing the bangers can see some benefits of renting the arena to another party and generating some income. Do you know who promotes the meetings at the raceway?

Does anyone know much about Stansted Raceway? Given its proximity to Harlow, Bishops Stortford and within reasonable distance of London, it might be worth the nomad team talking to the owners rather than consider Northampton. At least at Stansted you stand a reasonable chance of attracting ex Rye House, Arena and possibly Peterborough supporters to get their fix in the interim. Just a thought.