Ipswich ‘Tru7.com’ Witches rider Kyle Newman says for him it’s ‘business as usual’ ahead of the Championship play-off final, writes Henry Chard.
The Witches are pencilled in to race at Sheffield in the first leg of the final on Thursday night, assuming the Tigers hold onto their 28-point lead against Glasgow tonight.
The Witches home leg of the final – against either Sheffield or Glasgow – is on Saturday night at Foxhall.
After a injury-hit start to 2017, Newman has got himself going well and has proved a dependable racer in the Witches line-up. He’s looking forward to the final.
“It is business as usual really, I will be in the gym and making sure the bikes are alright this week,” he said.
“The moment you start thinking ‘this is a final, we’ve got to do this and that extra’. is the moment it all goes wrong. You have to turn up and take it as another meeting, that is the best preparation.
“As soon you start overthinking or overworking. that is when it will come back to haunt you.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love pressure races.
“Rory (Schlein) experienced my attitude a bit at Edinburgh ahead of heat 14 last week, that I really needed to win.
“He came over and was trying to pump me up and I was just there totally relaxed and chilled out. I think he thought I should have been more up for it but I like to go into races like that relaxed and calm, and that is the way I work.
“If you go into it with no pressure or extra stress then you’ll ride to the best of your ability.”
The Dorset-based rider says he is happy with his form going into the final.
“It has been tough this year with injuries but you just have to ride through it,” he said.
“I feel like I have got it together now and hopefully I can continue that in our last few matches and get the wins needed to get that trophy for Ipswich. It has been a long time coming for the club and we definitely deserve it and I want to be a part of that.”
The 25-year-old says that on and off the track it has been a great year, no matter what the result of the final.
“It has been awesome, whatever the result of this weekend, I have been saying it to sponsors and family that this has been my most enjoyable year of speedway because the team has been that much fun,” he added.
“It is not just on raceday, there is always jokes and banter on the group chat, it is constant! It is a great bunch of lads to be a part of and I want to thank them for the year.”
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