CHRIS Louis, the Ipswich Witches skipper, will be back in the saddle again tonight. Injured last April when he suffered a serious back ailment following a crash in Sweden, Louis plans to ride again following the second leg of the Craven Shield at Foxhall Stadium.

CHRIS Louis, the Ipswich Witches skipper, will be back in the saddle again tonight. Injured last April when he suffered a serious back ailment following a crash in Sweden, Louis plans to ride again following the second leg of the Craven Shield at Foxhall Stadium.

Louis was at Poole last night watching the Witches in action, and he said: "I shall be going to the track with my bikes and leathers expecting to have a spin after the match.

"I feel fit enough to do this now and it will be a bonus to get in some track action before the end of the season.

"I thought about taking a Grand Prix in Australia for a couple of days after being asked to come in as a replacement rider.

"It certainly appealed to spend a week or so in the sun and to ride at Sydney but I don't think I am quite ready for that."

Louis was pleased with his sides performance last night. He said: "The boys did well and to finish level with the other away team is a good result. Home sides are expected to take an advantage and if we get a good result at Foxhall we can go on and win the trophy because Coventry had stuttered at home this year."

CRAIG BOYCE: "It was all bad luck for me tonight but surely things will turn round in the next two legs. We are owed some good fortune and there is everything to ride for. I have another engine, or two, that I can use in the next two legs."

SCOTT NICHOLLS: "I was not making the start and once behind there was little chance of catching up. It will be different at Foxhall on a grippier track and I am so keen to finish the season on a high note."

COLIN PRATT: "This was a disappointing result for me as we should have done better.

"Tomas Topinka was not his normal shelf and I was disappointed that Billy Janiro did not ride.

"He told me he was fit but has had a set back and still plans to fly in from the States on Friday and take part in the third leg.

"Billy Hamill was unlucky to be excluded in heat 11 as it was the Ipswich man who made the mistake. Billy did not touch him although I admit from where the referee sat it may have looked different."