MARK Loram will have to pinch himself when he enters the stadium for tonight's Sky Sports Elite League clash with Eastbourne at Foxhall Heath (start 7pm).

By Elvin King

MARK Loram will have to pinch himself when he enters the stadium for tonight's Sky Sports Elite League clash with Eastbourne at Foxhall Heath (start 7.30pm).

A regular guest for the visitors, Loram will have to ensure he takes his place in the right pits.

The Stowmarket-based rider has filled in successfully when the Sussex club's skipper Nicki Pedersen has been on Grand Prix duty.

Loram scored a paid 12-point maximum riding at Arlington against Arena-Essex on August 8 and he will be in the Eastbourne team again tomorrow when Wolverhampton visit.

But there will be no denying Loram's loyalty tonight as the Witches aim to maintain their unbeaten home.

Loram has been in splendid form in recent weeks, and his exciting style and never-say-die attitude is one of the reasons the Foxhall turnstiles have been clicking merrily this year.

Ipswich are at full strength with Piotr Protasiewicz having recovered from his virus as they look to better the home result in the A fixture - 57-38.

This would give them a good chance of collecting the aggregate bonus point when the teams meet in the corresponding fixture at Arlington next month.

After pocketing six bonus points comparatively early in the season, Ipswich have failed to nail one for some while now.

Grabbing the remaining bonus points on offer is now imperative - plus winning at least one more away meeting. This of course is based on keeping their home form going with wins tonight and against Coventry next Thursday.

Former world champion Nicki Pedersen rides for the Eagles two days before the Czech Republic Grand Prix in Prague and in Adam Shields Eastbourne have a rider who has burnt-up the Foxhall track in the past. The meeting is sponsored by Orwell Motor Cycles.

Tonight's teams

Ipswich: P Protasiewicz (8.62 average), K Jansson (5.76), R Miskowiak (6.02), C Louis (7.04), M Loram (8.50), D King (4.68), T Kroner (3.00).

Eastbourne: A Shields (7.74), E Kennett (4.78), D Barker (6.53), D Norris (6.80), N Pedersen (9.54), C Woodward (3.00), L Bridger (4.36).

LAST night's planned Sky Sports Elite League meeting at Oxford was called off at 4.30pm because of a waterlogged track.

This saved the Ipswich riders from driving the whole way to the Sandy Lane circuit and a new date will have to be arranged. It will be next month as no more Wednesday dates are available in August.

Ipswich have made a few late changes to their fixture list and it is unlikely there will be meetings at Foxhall Stadium now on either Monday, September 4, or Thursday, September 7.

The Elite League play-off deadline has been extended to September 21 giving time, if needed, to re-stage either tonight's Eastbourne meeting or next Thursday's Coventry clash.

Remaining league fixtures

August: 24 - Eastbourne (home, 7.30pm); 28 - Swindon (away, 5pm); 30 - Poole (away, 7.30pm) 31 - Coventry (home, 7.30pm).

September: 9 - Eastbourne (away, 7.30pm); 11 - Wolverhampton (away, 7.30pm).

To be arranged. League - Oxford (away). Craven Shield - Eastbourne and Wolves (home and away).

Former Ipswich skipper Scott Nicholls has not given up hope of racing in the Czech Grand Prix in Prague on Saturday - despite suffering a broken collarbone at Brandon on Monday.

Nicholls has visited Ipswich-based speedway specialist physio Brian Simpson and will make his decision today. Either way, he will not take part in practice at Prague.