DOYLE SAYS BRITAIN IS STARTING POINT FOR AUSSIES

Ipswich top gun Jason Doyle believes Britain is still the place for Aussie riders to start their European careers as his fellow countryman Keynan Rew makes his long-awaited UK debut with the Witches in 2023.

While Aussies almost always took their first professional laps in the UK, an increasing number are opting to start in the Polish or Danish leagues, with 2020 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion Jaimon Lidsey and Rew both showing their potential in Poland in recent years.

While both will continue to race there, Leszno man Lidsey is also back in the British league with Belle Vue after a three-season absence, while Gdansk signing Rew has joined Doyle at Ipswich for his first UK campaign.

Doyle, who also races for PGE Ekstraliga newcomers Krosno and Swedish side Indianerna in 2023, is delighted to see his former Leszno teammate making the move, and he believes a spell in Britain gives riders the track craft needed to succeed in mainland Europe.

He said: “It’s good to finally get this young Aussie over to Britain. It’s a big mistake when these young kids go straight to Poland and try to ride there instead of coming to Britain first.

“Hopefully they can break this habit. Perhaps they see the dollar signs and don’t see that British speedway gives you your track craft and skill. You can see when the rough tracks come up, the boys who only ride big tracks really struggle.

“I spoke to Keynan a few times about coming to Britain. He needed to make that decision himself and it took him a little while to feel it was the right thing for him. He has a great setup in Poland, so he will be flying from Poland back to Britain a lot.

“It’s going to be different for him, but it’s a great move for him to be at Ipswich. I will help him as much as he wants me to help him, and I think we will have an ace card with him in the team.”

Rew appeared in the 2022 SGP2 under-21 series, as well as scoring 12 points for Australia in SON2 – the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship at Vojens on July 29.

With his PGE Ekstraliga experience gained at Leszno, Rew could emerge as a real trump card for Ipswich this season on a 4.00 starting average. Doyle knows having a rider capable of making huge progress makes all the difference in the title race.

The former Swindon hero said: “When we have won with Swindon, we always had that one rider who came through and proved the trump card. Rasmus Jensen was that rider in the 2019 season.

“Hopefully having Keynan in the team at Ipswich will be similar to what Rasser did at Swindon, coming in on a low average and hopefully putting a couple of points on it.”

Doyle won the 2011 Elite League with Poole, and then the 2012 Elite League and 2017 SGB Premiership in Swindon colours, followed by a league and cup double with the Robins in 2019 – the most successful but sadly also the last season in the club’s history.

He’s set for his second straight season at Ipswich in 2023 and admits extending his stay was far from a difficult decision.

“I had a great season at Ipswich last year,” he said. “I see similarities to Swindon, where they are very professional, and they know what they are doing. I just feel it was the right decision to ride for Ipswich. I would only stay at a club if I really enjoyed myself and the club pays their money on time. That’s the main thing for us speedway riders. It’s not about having more money; it’s about being treated well.”