Great Britain shooting star Will Cairns admits the chance to master the Foxhall track tempted him to make a huge move to the Ipswich Tru7 Group Witches for the 2027 season.
Words and Images by Ipswich Speedway
Cairns becomes the Suffolk side’s third signing for next year, and their required under-21 rider, joining Speedway GP icon and former Belle Vue teammate Dan Bewley at Foxhall, along with club captain Danny King.
The 17-year-old has emerged as one of world speedway’s biggest talents, having qualified for the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship (SGP2) series this year, as well as winning bronze in the 2024 FIM Speedway Youth World Championship (SGP3) event in Gorzow.
Cairns won league titles with both Rowe Motor Oil Premiership club Belle Vue and Cab Direct Championship side Poole in 2026, and he will continue to double up with the Pirates next year.
He hopes to bring his winning touch to Ipswich in 2027, and Cairns admits the chance to hone his skills on Foxhall’s tight and technical track, which is being revamped for next year, was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.
He said: “I have always been intrigued by what goes down in the Witches camp. It’s a club that I have always wanted to ride for.
“I grew up wanting to ride for Belle Vue. I became a Colt for two seasons and then I progressed into the Aces side. It was a very difficult decision for me to move away from Belle Vue, but I think I am just doing what’s going to be best for my career.
“The Foxhall track played a big part. I don’t go the best around Ipswich, and I think there is going to be a big step forward in me calling Ipswich my home track. It’s going to be good.
“I will be at No.6 next season, so it will be a little bit of a tougher job for me. I am excited by the team they have put together, and I think I can progress there.”
Cairns, who was a member of this year’s Great Britain national side for the FIM Speedway World Cup, is delighted to continue racing alongside GB teammate Bewley, who completed a shock switch to Suffolk yesterday as a strong 2027 side takes shape.
Cairns said: “Dan and I get along quite well. He came to America, and we basically lived together there. We trained together and we rode together. We get along. I am looking forward to building on that relationship even more and getting some 5-1s with him.
“I think we’ve pulled together a brilliant side. The riders (Witches chairman) Richard (Coleman) has managed to put together are really, really strong.
“Paul Hurry is there, and I grew up training with Paul. He is going to be my team manager, and I get along very well with Richard. I am looking forward to it. We are well in contention for winning the league next year.”
Foxhall stages the biggest event in its history next season – the 2027 FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Ipswich on Saturday, August 14. Ahead of that, the 2027 FIM SGP2 of Great Britain – Ipswich takes place on Friday, August 13 – round two of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship.
It’s an event Cairns would love to be part of, and especially with a home crowd behind him.
He said: “I think that’s another thing that persuaded me to move to Ipswich. It gives me a fighting chance to have a home crowd there getting behind me. I think it will really help.
“This year’s goal was just to qualify for SGP2, and I managed to do that. Next season, it’s really the same goal again. I want to qualify and then I am looking to get myself on the podium for one of those rounds. The top tier would be to win a round.”
Cairns will be putting in plenty of laps ahead of the new season and is jetting Down Under to start his preparations. He said: “Today I leave for Australia. I am going with one of my good friends, (GB Under-21 teammate) Luke Harrison.
“We are living out there together. We are going to be out there for most of the winter. I’ll be getting in some off-season training, learning about the bikes and learning about my fitness.
“Then I might be going to see (four-time Speedway GP world champion) Greg Hancock in America in February. It’s going to be a busy winter.”
