Ipswich have confirmed Emil Sayfutdinov and Dan Thompson will return to Foxhall in 2025.
Triple FIM Speedway of Nations world champion Sayfutdinov has emerged as one of the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership’s biggest stars since making the move back to the UK in 2023.
Meanwhile, Thompson was one of Britain’s most improved riders this year, emerging as a key performer for the Witches, as well as Cab Direct Championship team Plymouth.
He also impressed for Great Britain at the FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 event in Manchester until injury curtailed a very promising night.
Sayfutdinov would love to land his first league title in the UK with the Witches after being ruled out of this season’s play-offs due to injury – a blow which played a key role in ending their title hopes.
He told the Ipswich club website: “I have really enjoyed the last two years here and I decided to be part of the team again. Promoter Chris (Louis) has put some good teams together with some good names and we have another opportunity to give 100 percent and get that gold medal, which is our goal. I’m really enjoying it and the experience is still making me better.
"There is a good team atmosphere, and I was thinking about this before signing again. I want to fight again because we wanted to be champions the last two years and we haven’t achieved that yet, but we will try again to do it.”
Thompson is keen to continue his improvement with Ipswich and is pleased to continue in their colours. He said: “It’s given me a bit of continuity going into next year, I joined halfway through 2023 so this will be almost my third season with the club. It is definitely a good club to be a part of and it was an easy decision.
“All the people around Ipswich, Chris, (team manager) Ritchie (Hawkins) and the fans make it a great club. It is a difficult track but learning it every week has brought me on as a rider and individual, and another year will only benefit me.
“Last year was really good, my stint in the main body of the team controlled my average nicely so I come in on a handy average this year and I start at No.6, so let’s see if I can push myself into the main body again.
“I was building momentum; I was enjoying my racing and was happy with the clubs I was at, and that will be the same again this year. I will be looking for a positive start and, in my eyes, we should have had two or three trophies in the last two years that we have missed out on, and we will try to get them this year.”