Hawk127

Would Antonio Lindback or Vaclav Milik be options or even Kai Huckenbeck. Is Chris Holder able to ride in the U.K.? Whatever happens they really do need some fresh new faces to wear the Witches race jacket and not fall back on the ‘old guard’

For just a split second I thought Chris had pulled off the all time rabbit out of the hat when I read on page four of this week’s speedway star, ‘GP at Ipswich?’ . No wonder team building had taken a back seat I thought then the let down, bloody Aussie track. Oh well can but dream

A European rider was mentioned as a possibility. Would any of the following feature, Jarek, Andrei Lebedev, Martin Smolinksi, Zagar, Nicki Pedersen, Andreas Johnson. Alternatively given the state of the sport could we expect a team that includes Scot, Jeremy, Chris, Paul Hurry and Swirderski (only joking about Chris). Seriously, the silence or lack of information is not good for potential season ticket purchases and sponsors. I just hope that the Louis clan do not rue the day they sold out the good folk of Suffolk and Ipswich to the arch enemy north of the border. Buy back agreements are questionable and when you are dealing with Chapman and co count your fingers after a handshake. You may find yourself short changed.

Agree.

Name them.

Nothing of any substance, waffle, hot air and all pretty meaningless. No riders named which is what most are seeking and in Louis’s case he probably would not put out a release like that thinking it to be a waste of time and an insult to the intelligence of the fan base.

Perhaps Chapman has an embargo on press releases etc. when it comes to team announcements and he has to approve everything before it goes public. It is his show and he will call the tune, Louis and GED are just puppets and he would not want one of his lackies stealing his thunder. If you sell your soul to the enemy most know what eventually happens. Perhaps someone who uses twitter could try contacting one of them and see what feedback you get. Louis would seemingly be reasonably open in the past, if he is not now, you have the answer.

I am afraid I totally agree. That unique identity that made Ipswich special with a rural feel and grass roots challenger riders who made good and gained respect from the rest of the league as they travelled and battled hard. Suffolk riders that made the Witches what they were and no real glamour stars until the latter years. Even those world class riders that joined the club were adopted by the good folk of Suffolk and made welcome and were appreciated. Good local support with riders you could identify with and at least Ipswich was independent. That has all gone as the club has been sold down the line as a commodity and that is how the new owner will view his investment. Don’t believe the rhetoric it is nothing more than a commercial opportunity that if it does not work out will be dropped like a hot potato. Let’s hope that fans do not rue the decision of those you thought you could trust.

I suspect that the option is if Chapman was approached by a third party to buy Ipswich, Louis would be offered first refusal but if that bid by a third party could not he matched by Louis, Chapman would sell to the the third party. No one knows at this stage whether these deals will work in the short to medium term but it is what it is. I still find it difficult to believe either of them particularly in light of the EADT interview. Louis must have known at that stage what was on the cards, the deal was not done last minute. He has afterall known the Chapman family for many years and last season was probably the straw that broke the camels back. Disillusioned by what happened on the track and the antics of a few riders must have made him question if it was all worth it. Cannot help feeling that something very special has been lost by a Suffolk born and bred promotion selling out let alone to the arch enemy north of the border. Few will trust any results between the three teams. Won’t take long before the seeds of doubt re match fixing are sown.

I agree, it is time to worry and when you look back and see at times his body language last season and take for example when riders refuse to take to the track, you have the tail wagging the dog. On this basis you cannot blame the Louis family for taking the money and getting their feet in the traps ready for the off. When you have upstart riders dictating the way today’s sport is run rather than adapting themselves and bikes to track conditions and consequently ruling the roost why would any right minded invidual continue to underwrite financially a business which is largely out of the control of the owner. Chapman has history on subject of rider rebellion and with the likes of Rory able to influence others and in doing so bringing dissent to the sport without repercussions sums up why as an owner you should be ertified. Sadly this sport has changed irrevocably and those days of local loyalty from the top with real characters who have charisma in the sport are but a distant memory. Ipswich and Suffolk Speedway will never be the same. Today that door closed.

Someone else owns the club so Louis’s word are pretty hollow. It is irrelevant how long you know someone, Chapman will do what is best for HIS business. If the change brings back overseas riders such as the Poles to Ipswich and also provides weekly speedway than that is fine, a possible step in the right direction but what chances of both happening. Will the local East of England clubs also run NL teams or development teams? Has anyone of these characters ever considered the thoughts of supporters? This move simply shows how vunerable the league is with two clubs dropping out and no one else willingly seeking to join the top tier. What price the survival of this league. Surely this is not answer to the state that speedway finds itself in. I give it a year before it finally implodes.

So that true Suffolk link has now gone. No longer in the safe hands of someone who understands what the witches have been all about. The Louis’s have finally sold out which is no great surprise but a sad day for Suffolk speedway. Anyone’s guess as to how long the witches will survive but the reality is that something will have to give sooner rather than later. Three teams owned by the same person and possible dwindling support with sporadic schedule of meetings. It does not address the issues that Louis spoke about in the interview in the EADT. He really came across as someone who wanted to see change but is this the right one for the long term future of the witches. Time will tell whether this is the right move.

Agree. I only reacted to the post from Wealdstone. The only other reason could be that bangers/stock car numbers through the turnstiles far exceed speedway. Spedeworth for example have what appears to be a winning formula which speedway cannot compete with and you only have to look at the numbers at Foxhall for a banger/stock car meeting to see why Speedway is the poor relation.

The original quote suggested that they leave Kings Lynnn to stock cars and move to the EOES. Hence my comments. Here in East Anglia you have Mildenhall with its future unknown, Peterborough’s position unclear, Ipswich may look at the higher league, Rye House position not totally clear, Lakeside gone by the wayside and the possible suggestion re the Stars and all this in a region that has been a hotbed of speedway over the years and tremendous growth of local talent graduating from other two wheeled sports. It may be one of the few areas in the country where the proximity of clubs could make a huge difference to the overall well being of the sport. You could even add Coventry into the equation. Comments are really based on the sport overall and concern for its future in the region and if I am reading too much into things or got it so drastically wrong apologies all round.

So Mr Chapman who has presided over possibly one of the worse years in British Speedway is prepared to walk away from Norfolk and leave the county with no track and any possibility of local derbies with Ipswich and the rivalry that graced the East Anglia for many a year ever happening again. Betray the Stars fans and those who transferred their allegiance from Norwich all those years back. If it is true and it does happen let all those loyal Norfolk supporters and the wider support hope he fails and in doing so suffers plenty of financial hardship while he reflects on on another crass decision.

If Harris is owed money under a contract then he should go through the small claims court in an attempt to recover what is due and failing that go for a winding up order. It is all speculation and any court would probably overturn a ban where sums due had not been paid thereby constituting a breach of contract. The insolvency act covers this point of being unable to pay debts when due. If the company is trading insolvently and directors allow it to continue, they may then become personally liable. On the subject of Rye House and Lakeside as tracks not teams, it would seem that Rye House is the best option for continuation of the sport at whatever level. Lakeside as a track appears to be history. The Lakeside licence is on ice. Who would take that on with the options currently available. Rye House has a track and I suspect it meets current requirements otherwise why would the last few Lakeside fixtures have been allowed to have gone ahead so a glimpse of hope re compliance. Between a rock and a hard place for a team and venue but the sad thing is that the sport really cannot afford to lose two tracks in the South East.

Thanks for the feedback. It does really show why you would have to be start raving bonkers to invest in a track or a club where you are not allowed at the top table for a few years during which you are told when and how you run your business and any decisions made by those who are at best only considering their own self interest yet they can materially affect your bottom line and you have to accept it even if it makes no sense.They also want you to put up a bond in the knowledge that they can change the rules at anytime that can be detrimental to you and your business and you can do nowt about it and if you pull the plug you effectively get fined even though continuation could leave you with substantial losses. You have a sport run by a few incompetent people and yet next step up in the chain of command is the ACU who are in effect condoning the behaviour of a collective body that is not fit to run the sport. Good luck to anyone mad enough to invest in speedway.

I am sure you are right but. What could the BSPA do if for example an overseas club (German, Dutch, French etc.) decided to rent a track in the U.K. and put racing on using licensed riders from their own country? Racing under their own country rules and not using riders attached to U.K. clubs I cannot see that it would be anything to do with the BSPA. A bit like American football renting Wembley albeit not as grand. If a track owner wants to rent the stadia out to the highest bidder and that bidder is an overseas club which can arrange all the necessary insurances, medical cover etc. who could stop it happening? It is just a thought and I have not drilled down to the cost etc. but would it be a restriction of trade if the BSPA tried to block it?

No criticism intended but when people talk about Essex are they thinking south or north of the county. Would former Lakeside fans travel to say to Colchester or Clacton(I am not saying any land is available) which is a fair way off the original patch. Rayleigh fans travelled to Rye House and probably more latterly to Lakeside (or Arena as it was in the early days) but where is the real catchment area. It is important to find somewhere with little in the way of local entertainment and build on the fact that people can readily relate to supporting local sporting heroes and the entertainment is at a price point where people are prepared to spend the cash. I sincerely wish that the sport could find a home in Essex but my gut feeling is that with the demand for housing etc, south of the county is going to be a difficult nut to crack and perhaps any would be track owner/promoter needs to look at less densely populated areas of which you still have some in Essex albeit access is on B class roads. Good luck and let’s hope that another team is not lost to the sport.

1st April 2019

We salute you Workington, team, management and supporters. 2018 Champions and it will go down in history.

Just about it. Congratulaions to everyone at Workington. A well deserved honour. League Champions 2018 - Workington

It would be criminal if in the finest hour, Workington are lost to the sport. Let’s hope that this is not the grand finale and we see them next season and many more

Well done Workington, keep it up. Absolutely brilliant. Fingers crossed you can keep this up and go all the way 28 - 8 a good start.

Listening and really appreciate this and well done to the local BBC station. Good luck to Workington.