Mayfield, parent company of FIM Speedway World Championships global promoter Mayfield Sports Events, has reached a world-first agreement that sees the storied PGE Ekstraliga club purchase a minority stake in the Foxhall side – an agreement that will see the Ipswich and Wrocław clubs join forces on and off the track.

The teams will share information and support each other in a wide range of areas including but not limited to youth development and training, promotion and marketing, sponsorship, event operations, ticketing, fan experience and building sustainable clubs at the heart of their communities that attract fans from a wide range of ages.

Mayfield founder and Witches chairman Richard Coleman remains in full control of the Witches, along with general manager Andrew Chisholm and team manager Paul Hurry.

In his time at the helm, Coleman has strived to take the 2025 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership champions to the next level, building a competitive side and improving the experience for fans at Foxhall and those who follow the club online, including the introduction of a big screen and a new streaming service.

He believes joining forces with one of the world’s biggest speedway clubs can only benefit Ipswich, both on and off the track. Coleman said: “If you look at the Ekstraliga, it’s the Champions League of speedway and there is a lot to be learned from that league. We had a chat with three clubs, but from my perspective, Wrocław was head and shoulders above the others and has a lot to offer. It’s a really well-run club – and not only financially. Every single league match is sold out and they really do care about the fan experience and the riders.

“The Rusko family also deeply cares about the sport of speedway. I think they share my vision and values as to where the sport needs to go in the next five years. They really understand that the sport of speedway outside of Poland is a concern, so their motives to join forces with us and improve this picture were the right ones.

“I am in a fortunate position where I don’t look at the Witches to necessarily make me money personally. But I also want to be in a position where I can invest back into the club and try to take things forward. I still have total control of the club. We certainly didn’t need any additional financing. My commitment and my team’s commitment to the Witches is as it was, and it is only furthered by this partnership.

“It was very much a question of whether it was the right fit strategically in the heart rather than in the wallet.

“Therefore, we were able to come to a view that a strategic partnership made sense.”

Coleman is delighted to be joining forces with Wrocław and its owners, the Rusko family – a family that he believes has the sport at heart.

He said: “Wrocław hasn’t always pursued financial gain over the bigger picture. They have been very active in attracting youth. It’s a very young demographic that they have in Wrocław. They are very active in their local community. I think there are a lot of things that we can learn from them. I am really excited about how this partnership can pan out in future years.

“Ultimately, it is very much Mayfield’s club. But we are really interested in how Wrocław can advise and help, and how we can collectively move the Witches forward.”

Coleman is encouraged by the success of multi-club ownership in other sports, not least football. He added: “That model is very tried and tested in football. It will be interesting to see how this progresses within speedway. I think Wrocław’s involvement with the Witches can only be overwhelmingly positive.

“We are going to have a commercial working group. The purpose of that is to look at how we can help each other, whether that be staging sparring/challenge matches in pre-season, or whether that’s initiatives across the board.

“The sport of speedway is huge in Poland, and within Britain, there is a diaspora of around a million Poles. There is clearly a Polish market within the UK and if Ipswich is the most open club to that, then we can only stand to benefit and gain.

“We will also have a sporting working group with our general manager and team manager and their opposite numbers in Poland. Together, we can have much more influence over the best engine tuners, the best riders and the best academies. There are lots of areas where we will be stronger together than we would be on our own. I am quite excited and enthused about the benefits that this strategic partnership can bring.”

Coleman hints that Wrocław’s support could play a role in helping Ipswich with constructing a strong side for the 2027 Premiership season.

He said: “I feel that Wrocław will be very helpful and involved in how we build our squad for 2027. Both clubs feel they are stronger together and it could create options or clever ways to do contracts. We will have to see how that plays out. I certainly don’t see any disadvantage – this can only be a good thing for Ipswich.”

WTS Sparta Wrocław club president Andrzej Rusko is delighted to join forces with the Witches. He said: “Speedway does not begin and end in Poland. I am fully aware that, for many years, we have had the strongest speedway league in the world.

“However, I view this sport from a global perspective, and I know that we must strengthen other leagues and continue developing the discipline in other key markets. This is essential if speedway is to experience a true global revival.

“England is the birthplace of speedway, and I have no doubt that this is where we must begin this new chapter of cooperation. Ipswich has always been a club close to my heart. Many years ago, John Louis showed me the direction in which speedway was heading and taught me so much about the sport. The lessons I learned from him helped us build and develop speedway in Poland.

“Now, we are returning in a new role. Our ambition is to help make speedway in England, just as it is in Poland, a premium sporting product once again, and for the Ipswich Witches to inspire and lead the way for other clubs across the country.

“I believe this marks the beginning of a shared journey. Together, we can open a new chapter that will help rebuild and strengthen speedway on a global scale in the years ahead.

“Richard Coleman is a man of vision, determination and strong leadership. I know he has a clear plan and the commitment to execute it step by step in order to develop the sport we all love. We want to support him in that mission and work together to promote speedway, helping it become an even stronger global brand within the international sporting landscape.”

Words and Images by Ipswich Speedway

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The 24-year-old comes into the Stars line-up as a replacement for Paco Castagna and will slot into the reserve berth following the latest average changes, with Cooper Rushen moving into the main body of the team.

Jenkins recently impressed while guesting for King’s Lynn at Ipswich and brings valuable Premiership experience, having previously raced for Peterborough under current Stars boss Rob Lyon. He was also part of Ipswich’s title-winning side last season.

After a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, a move to Berwick has helped reignite Jenkins’ form, with the rider producing a string of impressive performances for the Bandits, including several double-figure scores on home shale.

Speaking to the King’s Lynn Stars website, Jenkins said:

“I’m delighted to be signing for King’s Lynn. I’ve hit a good bit of form recently, and I’m really enjoying my riding at the moment, so I’m looking forward to being back in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.

“I’d like to thank the management for giving me this opportunity, and I’m excited to get started and do my best for the club.”

Castagna departs the club after joining the Stars ahead of the current season. The Italian suffered an injury earlier in the year following a heavy crash at Edinburgh and has struggled to consistently score points, particularly around the Adrian Flux Arena.

The club thanked Castagna for his efforts and wished him well for the remainder of the campaign.

Jenkins is expected to make his King’s Lynn debut at Belle Vue on June 29, with his first home meeting scheduled against his former club Ipswich on July 2.

Feature Image courtesy of Kings Lynn Speedway

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Club chairman Richard Coleman will address fans, sponsors and local media at 7pm after reaching an agreement which the club says will open “considerable opportunities” for the Witches moving forward.

While details of the announcement remain under wraps, the club is keen to share the news directly with the Witches community before it is released more widely.

The event will take place at Foxhall Stadium, with The Diner open from 6.30pm and a cash bar available. Supporters will also have the opportunity to put questions directly to Coleman following the announcement.

The news comes during another successful season for the Witches, who continue to compete at the top end of the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership and are preparing to face Belle Vue in league action on Thursday evening.

With the club describing the development as one that will create significant opportunities for the future, fans will undoubtedly be speculating on what the announcement could involve ahead of Wednesday night’s gathering.

Supporters wishing to attend are invited to be at Foxhall Stadium for the 7pm announcement.

Feature Image courtesy of Ipswich Speedway

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Courtney reflected on how far the club has come since speedway returned to Oxford, whilst also acknowledging the challenges that remain behind the scenes in running a modern speedway club.

One key announcement from the club is the introduction of a match-night box office from this Wednesday, allowing supporters to purchase tickets by cash or card on race nights after feedback from fans.

The full statement from Jamie Courtney is below:

Words from Jamie Courtney

A touch of reality — after every revolution comes a moment for evolution.

Just over five years ago, the stadium at Cowley was a shell of its former self. Derelict, crumbling, and slowly being reclaimed by weeds. Its future looked bleak, despite the determination of many who refused to let it become just another housing estate.

Fast-forward to today and we have a vibrant, modern stadium full of life. A place where riders young and old chase their dreams, where families come together, and where the greatest show on shale once again belongs to Oxford.

From mascots taking their first steps on their journey, to rising talents like Jody Scott, Luke Killeen and Mitch McDairmid, right through to international riders such as Sam Masters, the BetGoodwin Stadium is alive again.

But the loss of greyhound racing, and the turbulence that followed earlier this year, reminded us all that nothing should ever be taken for granted.

Thanks to the investment and commitment of Mike Austin and Spencer Timmo, we’ve been able to put Oxford Speedway on firmer ground and focus on securing its long-term future. But I want to be honest about something: keeping this club alive and moving forward takes an enormous amount of work behind the scenes by a small army of people.

The reality of running a speedway club is long days, late nights, and a huge personal and financial commitment. But I do it because I believe in this club, in this city, and because I believe in the people who support it.

Everyone has a part to play in our future here at Oxford. Our job as management is to build competitive, entertaining teams; prepare a circuit that brings out the best in our riders; deliver a slick, professional show that gives supporters real value for their hard-earned money; and continue raising the standard of what we offer.

And because we’ve listened to you, we’re making an important change.

Starting this Wednesday, we’re introducing a match-night box office at the stadium, where supporters will be able to purchase tickets by cash or card. Many of you told us that the lack of an on-the-night payment option has been a barrier, and we want to remove that barrier completely. We hope this comes as welcome news. Full details on how the box office will operate will be shared in the coming days, ready for this Wednesday’s meeting.

But above everything else, I want to say this clearly: thank you. To every supporter who stands by us, week in and week out. To every sponsor who believes in what we’re building. Your encouragement, your passion, your loyalty, it genuinely keeps this club alive. When things get tough, it’s your positive voices, your helpful messages, and your presence on the terraces that remind us why we fight so hard for Oxford Speedway. We are truly grateful for every bit of support you give us.

You, the fans, are the heartbeat of this club. Without you, professional sport simply cannot exist.

As the season heats up, with the Cheetahs pushing for the play-offs and the Chargers defending their National League title, make sure you don’t miss a moment — and just as importantly, spread the word across the city and beyond.

Wednesday nights were made for speedway.

Oxford Speedway needs you!

Feature Image courtesy of Oxford Speedway – Steve Edmunds

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The meeting was due to be staged this weekend but complications surrounding rider availability have forced organisers to make a late change in order to protect the integrity of both the Semi-Final and the British Final.

A statement from British Speedway said:

“BRITISH Speedway Promoters Ltd and Leicester Speedway regret to announce that Sunday’s British Semi-Final at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park has been postponed.

Over recent days significant complications have arisen with rider availability for the meeting, these issues being outside the control of BSP Ltd.

Following extensive talks involving several parties, it has been decided that in fairness to all riders and in order not to detract from this event, or the British Final itself at Belle Vue, a change of date is required.

The British Semi-Final will now take place at Leicester on Sunday July 19, with a 2pm start. This is one hour earlier than had been planned for this weekend due to the football World Cup Final taking place on the evening of July 19 at 8pm. The meeting will feature the exact rider line-up which would have been on track this Sunday.

BSP Ltd would like to thank Leicester Speedway for their willingness to re-arrange the event, and also Buxton Speedway for agreeing to put back their scheduled WSRA National Development League match against Leicester Lion Cubs from July 19 to July 26.

We would like to apologise to all who had intended to attend on Sunday for the late notice, but we do believe the best solution has been reached under the circumstances.”

The rescheduled meeting will now take place on Sunday, July 19, with tapes up at 2pm, as riders continue their quest to secure a place in the prestigious British Final at Belle Vue.

Feature Image courtesy of British Speedway

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The 23-year-old arrives at the GT Tyres Arena with a wealth of experience despite his age. A former British Youth Champion and three-time British Under-19 Champion, Kemp has competed at the highest levels of British Speedway and brings proven race-winning ability to the GT Tyres Comets’ side.

Supporters will be well aware of Drew’s capabilities around the GT Tyres Arena. Riding for the Berwick Bandits in 2025, he produced an impressive 12-point performance at Northside in September and finished the campaign as the Bandits’ number one.

In 2026, Kemp has been competing in the Premiership with Leicester Lions, and the Comets promotion believe he has all the attributes required to strengthen the side as the season enters a crucial period.

GT Tyres Comets Team manager James Denham said:

“Drew is a rider we feel can make an immediate impact. He’s shown over the last couple of seasons what he is capable of, and importantly he already knows the GT Tyres Arena well and has produced some excellent performances here.

“We’ve looked carefully at the options available and we believe Drew gives us the best opportunity to move forward. There’s still a lot of racing left this season and we feel the team has not yet reached its full potential. Drew is hungry to prove himself and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the club.”

Workington Speedway promoter Andrew Bain added:

“This was an important decision for the club. We felt we needed to make a change if we were to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our objectives this season, and Drew was a rider we identified as someone capable of making a real difference.

“He’s still young, but he already has a tremendous amount of experience and we’re pleased to bring him to Workington and we’re excited to see him in action on Saturday.”

Drew joins the GT Tyres Comets with immediate effect on a 8.07 average, and will make his HOME debut this Saturday against Glasgow*.

*Subject to BSPL approval.

Words and Image by Workington Speedway

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The club confirmed the news on Monday, citing the challenges of operating with the Rider Replacement facility and the difficulties of securing suitable guest riders as key factors behind the decision.

In a statement published on the Workington Speedway website, the club said:

“Workington Speedway can confirm that Craig Cook has been released from the club with immediate effect.

Out of respect for Craig and the circumstances, the club will not be commenting further on the matter.

However, after careful consideration, the promotion has concluded that it can no longer continue operating with the Rider Replacement facility on a regular basis. The ongoing shortage of suitable guest options has also presented significant challenges in recent weeks and has made it increasingly difficult to field the strongest possible side.

The promotion firmly believes that supporters, who spend their hard-earned money following the Comets, deserve to see a complete one-to-seven line-up every week. Unfortunately, due to injuries and other circumstances, we have been unable to provide that consistency since our opening meeting at Redcar.

With a substantial portion of the season still remaining, the promotion has taken the difficult decision to make a change in order to give the team the best possible opportunity to achieve its objectives. While there have been encouraging signs, recent close results have highlighted that the team has not yet been able to fulfil its potential.

This was a tough decision to make by the promotion. Craig’s performances during his time have been excellent and that’s evident in his scores, but we need a consistent team – so we would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Craig for all of his efforts in Comets colours and we wish him well for the future.

The promotion would also like to thank supporters for their continued backing and patience. A further announcement will be made very soon.”

The Comets have indicated that a further announcement regarding the team’s future plans will follow shortly.

Statement and Image courtesy of Workington Speedway.

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The King’s Lynn and Poole prospect delivered when it mattered most in the Final, making a superb start before slicing his way to the front on the opening lap. Once in control, Rushen never looked back as he raced clear of Jody Scott, with Ace Pijper and Will Cairns battling over the remaining podium position.

That contest came to an abrupt end on lap three when contact between Pijper and Cairns saw Pijper fall. With Rushen comfortably clear heading into the final stages, the race was stopped and the result awarded, giving the teenager the biggest title of his young career.

Scott was classified second, whilst Pijper completed the podium in third after Cairns was disqualified from the restart.

Speaking to British Speedway after his victory, an emotional Rushen admitted the result was a world away from the disappointment he experienced in the competition 12 months earlier.

“I think I’m in a dream at the minute,” he said.

“This event last year was kind of haunting me throughout the year. I had a terrible run at the Qualifier and never even made it through to the Final, so to get through this year was a bonus.

“Then to have a Final like that, out there with some of my best mates in speedway, ripping around the boards and enjoying what we’re doing – I’m happy for myself and happy for everyone competing.”

Rushen’s triumph caps a remarkable rise for one of British speedway’s brightest young talents and further underlines why he is regarded as one of the sport’s stars of the future.

Scorecard

Feature Image courtesy of Colin Poole

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The club had originally announced Kennett on a 28-day contract, with Hellstrom-Bangs set to return once the temporary deal had ended. However, after reviewing the situation, the Witches have opted to keep the reserve berth available in the hope that Hellstrom-Bangs will soon be fit enough to resume racing.

Kennett had opportunities to take part in practice sessions at Foxhall and Lydd in recent days, but after further consideration Ipswich have decided against activating the move.

Redcar rider Jake Mulford will instead guest for the Witches in Thursday’s Rowe Motor Oil Premiership clash against Sheffield.

Witches chairman Richard Coleman explained the reasoning behind the decision:

“Had we gone ahead with Edward’s signature, it would have ruled Philip out of the team for the full 28-day period.

“Given that he has now been absent since the beginning of May, we are keen to help him resume racing as quickly as possible to ensure he is in the best possible form for the crucial summer months and has time to get accustomed to the Premiership tracks.

“We signed Philip in the belief that he could be a real trump card for us at reserve, and we still believe there is plenty more to come from him this season.

“We were also somewhat surprised that Edward did not take the opportunity to practise at Foxhall last week and missed a further opportunity at Lydd on Sunday. This prompted us to reflect on the move, and we have gone with Jake Mulford as a guest against Sheffield to cover for Philip. We thank him for stepping in.

“We wish Edward all the best as he makes his return to the sport with Oxford, and we are pleased to see him back on track with them.”

The Witches are now awaiting further updates on Hellstrom-Bangs’ condition and hope to learn soon whether the Swede is ready to make his long-awaited return to the side.

Feature Image courtesy of Ipswich Speedway

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Hopes were high that Riss would be in a position to return to the Cheetahs side this week however, as Team Manager Peter Schroeck explains, Riss needs more time and less pressure
“Erik’s progress to full health is slow and very frustrating for both parties. After much discussion, Erik is on board with our decision as he wants the best for us as a Club, and it gives him more time to recover.”

Edward Kennett has not ridden in British Speedway since injury in 2022 however, he has maintained his fitness riding grass-track and has also recently signed for the Ipswich Witches in the Premiership

“Edward’s decision to make a comeback to Racing is no surprise to me. We are very excited to give him the opportunity to join Oxford Cheetahs and knowing he will give his best efforts to the club” Schroeck concluded.

The Kennett name is no stranger to Oxford, with Edward’s uncle ‘Gordon Kennett’ a regular for the Oxford Rebels between 1972 and 1975, as well as guesting as a team manager, when Oxford were in the wilderness and riding invitational challenge meetings. Another uncle, Barney Kennett joined his brother Gordon at Oxford in 1975 and is a regular visitor to Sandy Lane whilst also currently being the World Speedway Riders Association President.

The Oxford Cheetahs will line up against the Redcar Bears on Wednesday June 3rd, tickets are on sale at www.oxfordspeedway.club/tickets . A full preview of the fixture will follow.

Words and Feature Image by Oxford Speedway

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