Premiership's Ipswich Witches have pulled off a huge winter scoop by landing multi-GP winning star Emil Sayfutdinov.
Emil, who sat out the 2022 season due to FIM sanctions for Russian participants, will make a sensational return to British speedway once the bikes begin to roar again next month.
The former European champion is looking forward to his return to British racing and is hoping to win a Premiership title with the Witches.
“Chris was very determined to get me back and only he called us when he heard that I will be back in speedway for 2023. It was Chris’ idea to call us, it looks like British speedway is quite organised now and the schedule looks organised with Mondays and Thursdays which suits me really good. I will only race in Poland, so that will only be Fridays and Sundays. It doesn’t look like I will compete in any other meetings in Poland, so if I have the chance to be on the bike more often, I will do it.
“One year without racing, I want to be back more often on the bike and more meetings will make me sharper for Poland and England. I have won team championships in most of the leagues, in Poland, Sweden and other countries a few times but never one in England, so maybe this will be the season I have a chance to win the team championship in England.”
Emil joins his recent Unia Leszno colleague, Jason Doyle, to spearhead the "Tru-Mix" Witches 2023 Premiership campaign alongside Danny King, Jack Thomas, Erik Riss and newcomer Keynan Rew. With less than a month until tapes up, fans will be eagerly awaiting the last remaining signing to complete the septet.
Catch Emil's return live on the British Speedway Network this season by securing your 2023 pass now at watch.britishspeedway.co.uk
Photo by Taylor Lanning