PREMIERSHIP PREVIEW: IPSWICH
IPSWICH were popular tips for the league title last season and appeared to be justifying that billing when they stormed to the top of the table in their bid to take the crown for the first time since 1998.
However, the Witches then suffered a disastrous injury crisis which left their top two riders out of action, with other members of the team also missing matches, and whilst it wasn’t enough to drop them out of the top four, it did leave them up against it heading into the play-offs.
Ultimately a brave semi-final effort against Leicester with the second leg in particular being full of incidents proved to be not quite enough as the Witches bowed out, and their KO Cup defence saw them lose out in the Final of that competition to Sheffield.
However, the components for success were clearly in place and Ipswich have therefore responded by bringing back six of last season’s seven riders, as well as making an extremely eye-catching signing for the remaining position.
Their problems in 2024 largely began when JASON DOYLE was ruled out for the rest of the season after a heavy crash at King’s Lynn in May, and whilst they were generally able to cover for the former World Champion’s absence into the summer, the situation became far worse when EMIL SAYFUTDINOV came to grief at Sheffield which ended his racing in this country for the year.
Both are back in the fold for 2025 and they start the season as statistically the strongest top two in the Premiership, with the potential for major points when they combine in Heats 13 and 15.
The closing stages of ’24 saw boss Ritchie Hawkins regularly call upon the services of fast-rising British talent TOM BRENNAN as a guest, especially when his Birmingham commitments were complete, and after a sensational showing in the play-offs at Leicester it was no surprise when the Witches opted to bring him in for the new campaign.
Back from ’24 are long-serving skipper DANNY KING, another to suffer an injury absence last year, and fellow GB racer ADAM ELLIS completes the top five with both riders taking second-string berths having spent much of their careers higher up the order.
The Witches also pack plenty of strength at reserve where there is a role reversal from 2024 for two of the UK’s top young talents. DAN THOMPSON moves out of the Rising Star berth and will look to keep up his excellent progress since joining the Foxhall club, whilst JORDAN JENKINS reverts to the RS position in his second season with the Suffolk side.
2025 STARTING LINE-UP:
Jason Doyle 9.36
Emil Sayfutdinov 9.12
Tom Brennan 6.52
Danny King 6.14
Adam Ellis 5.47
Dan Thompson 3.11
Jordan Jenkins (RS)
*Line-up subject to approval
