KIM Jansson today promised to step up several gears in tomorrow's final leg of the Craven Shield qualifying group at Eastbourne.The Swede was left distraught after failing to score a point in last night's second leg at Foxhall Stadium.

By Elvin King

KIM Jansson today promised to step up several gears in tomorrow's final leg of the Craven Shield qualifying group at Eastbourne.

The Swede was left distraught after failing to score a point in last night's second leg at Foxhall Stadium.

If he had contributed in his usual way, the Evening Star Witches would now have one wheel in the final.

“I feel for the club and I feel for promoter John Louis,” said Jansson. “I let everybody down and plan to make up for it tomorrow.

“I ran an engine too long and was not competitive last night. Other riders were pulling away from me.

“The engine was flat and I should have done something about it.

“I will be using a different engine tomorrow.

“In heat ten I went a little wide, but thought I would still be fine. But when I hit the thick shale the engine just died.

“Freddie Lindgren had nowhere to go and ran over my back side. I am sore around that area but expect to be fit tomorrow.”

Witches team manager Mike Smillie said: “I could not have asked for any more. We won 11 of the 12 races we were involved in and although it would have been nice to have a bigger lead seven points gives us a good head start for the third leg.”

Jon Cook, the Eastbourne team manager, said: “Really, this was an Ipswich select side and having Scott Nicholls in the team for a rider like Piotr Protasiewicz, who is struggling considerably, gives Ipswich a big advantage.

“Perhaps more respect should be given to this competition and riders should certainly be made aware by their management that Craven Shield fixtures are set to take place around the final two weeks of September.

“But we cannot really complain, as last season we had Mark Loram in as a guest for David Norris and the guest system is often a case of swings and roundabouts.”

Adam Skornicki said: “I always enjoy riding at Ipswich and would not rule out riding for the Witches one day.

“I went to see former Ipswich co-promoter Magda Louis after the meeting last night. We are still in touch.”