SKIPPER Chris Louis has been confirmed as the Ipswich Evening Star Witches number one.He starts the 2006 speedway season as partner to Swede Kim Jansson in the first heat of tomorrow's Suffolk Cup meeting against Mildenhall at Foxhall Stadium.
By Elvin King
SKIPPER Chris Louis has been confirmed as the Ipswich Evening Star Witches number one.
He starts the 2006 speedway season as partner to Swede Kim Jansson in the first heat of tomorrow's Suffolk Cup meeting against Mildenhall at Foxhall Stadium.
Mark Loram is programmed at number five, with third heat leader Piotr Protasiewicz at number three.
Louis and Jansson rode together for much of last season but it was not always a successful partnership with Jansson losing control at Coventry early in the season and putting Louis briefly in hospital - and out of action for six weeks - with a fractured knee cap.
Jansson says that he has overcome his 'stupid' moments now, and Ipswich will hope that his partnership with Louis will flower.
The Witches will have Carl Wilkinson riding at number seven because Daniel King is riding for Mildenhall - the Premier League club he doubles up with.
Wilkinson, who rides for Newport in the lower league, is keen to make an impression at Elite League level and will be out to show the Witches management what he is capable of.
Otherwise, Ipswich will be at full strength, and looking for a good lead to take to the second leg at West Row on Sunday.
It will be the first meeting as an Ipswich rider for 2000 world champion Loram for 17 years, the 35-year-old having signed for the Witches for the first time since 1989.
Twenty-one year-old Jan Jaros will be making his Ipswich debut, after riding in the Premier League for King's Lynn in 2005.
Mildenhall, who are running sides in the Premier and Conference Leagues this year, have already had a couple of meetings.
They intended to include an Elite League guest to strengthen them up, but have been refused permission.
They have therefore brought in Rye House heat leaders Stuart Robson and Chris Neath in place of reserves Jon Armstrong and Barry Burchatt. King is named at reserve for Mildenhall to help balance the teams.
Ipswich: C Louis, K Jansson, P Protasiewicz, R Miskowiak, M Loram, J Jaros, C Wilkinson.
Mildenhall Select: J Lyons, J King, S Tacey, S Robson, C Neath, D King, J Brundle.
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