CHRIS Louis, back as Ipswich skipper after an absence of more than two years, summed up the feeling in the Witches camp after their notable 48-42 victory at Arena Essex.

By Elvin King

CHRIS Louis, back as Ipswich skipper after an absence of more than two years, summed up the feeling in the Witches camp after their notable 48-42 victory at Arena Essex.

“We did it for each other at the club and that includes the injured Scott Nicholls,” said Louis, after a solid team effort had proved too much for the Hammers.

“This win sums up our season - it was a team effort. Guest Leigh Adams did a splendid job for us and everybody played a part.

“The track staff did an excellent job and there were no problems with the conditions. The sight of so many Witches' supporters in the crowd gave us all a big boost.

“We did talk before heat 13 that a 5-1 would probably not do us any favours, but it was not a tactical plan that Leigh should stay behind Mark Loram.

“Jesper B Jensen did not help me in heat three when he came further across that I expected, but that is all part and parcel of racing.”

Jensen, on his first visit to Purfleet, said: “The first corner caught me out in my first race. It was a tighter turn than I thought and Chris suffered. My bike was going well and it was another good win.”

Witches' promoter John Louis revealed that he contacted Danny Bird on the way down the A12 after hearing that the Championship of Great Britain qualifier at King's Lynn had been rained off.

“It was our mistake to have Danny in the programme at number two, Kim Jansson at seven and no Trevor Harding,” said Louis. “It could have worked for us with Danny's meeting called off, but he had unloaded his bikes and would not have been able to get to Arena in time.

“But this is not to decry Trevor who showed his potential again at reserve. In fact, it was a wonderful team effort, and we have Lee Richardson as a guest on Monday when he will be riding against his former club Coventry.”

Ipswich-based Leigh Lanham, who rode for the Witches as a 'floater' in 2002 and 2003 and 2000 world champion Mark Loram, who lives at Stowmarket, both had no complaints.

Lanham said: "The better side won. I tried two bikes and they both seemed a bit flat. Mark (Loram) gave me a hard knock in heat seven but I should be all right for my weekend World Championship qualifier in Poland.”

And Loram said: “Hats off to Ipswich. I had one of those frustrating off nights and was caught out a bit as there was not so much grip as usual on the outside.”