IT was hardly surprising that Tobi Kroner was all smiles after a superb performance against Oxford at Foxhall Stadium last night.Kroner has come on by leaps and bounds this season, listening to advice given to him and proving a competent rider both from the tapes and on the track.

By Mike Bacon

IT was hardly surprising that Tobi Kroner was all smiles after a superb performance against Oxford at Foxhall Stadium last night.

Kroner has come on by leaps and bounds this season, listening to advice given to him and proving a competent rider both from the tapes and on the track.

The German won four races last night from the reserve position and fittingly made sure of victory for the Witches with his fourth victory in heat 14.

“I am obviously very happy with my results tonight,” he beamed.

“I have always felt quick out on the track, but my starts needed improving.

“Jeremy Doncaster has helped me a lot with that and tonight Kim Jansson also gave me a few tips which have worked.

“I know I can ride all the tracks, not just Ipswich, and my gating is so much improved.

“This was a good win for us and we needed it.”

Meanwhile, Jansson put in another solid display from the difficult number two position, although he was annoyed with his first race blob.

“I felt so good in my first heat,” the young Swede said.

“I made the start, but then everything in the race seemed to go wrong.

“The more effort I put in, the worse it got for me, but we are off the bottom of the table and that is all that matters.”

Adam Shields had a quieter night by his usual high standards in a Witches' race jacket, but he understood the importance that victory meant to the home side who are missing the influential Mark Loram.

“It wasn't one of my best performances for Ipswich tonight,” he said. “The referee held the tapes for so long and it affected me a bit. Just as I felt I should go, they were being held that split second more.

“However, I'm pleased to help Ipswich win again as I know how important it is to them.”

Witches' promoter John Louis praised his side and the racing.

“It was a classic meeting with plenty of passing,” he said.

“So many people have come up to me and said how much they enjoyed it. The teams may not have been the strongest but the racing was superb. Tobi was magnificent and well done to him and all the lads who rode so well.”