ENGLAND'S top speedway rider Scott Nicholls today welcomed 'Mr Motivator' back to the Ipswich Witches ranks.Nicholls is sure that Chris Louis' return to the track will transform the FoxhallStadium-based Elite League speedway club.

ENGLAND'S top speedway rider Scott Nicholls today welcomed 'Mr Motivator' back to the Ipswich Witches ranks.

Nicholls is sure that Chris Louis' return to the track will transform the Foxhall

Stadium-based Elite League speedway club.

World number seven Nicholls said: "In all honesty the club was not promoted last year. Now we have a motivator behind the scenes, and on the track.

"A fresh, younger face was badly needed – and I am sure we can look forward to the 2004 season with confidence."

Last year Ipswich finished rock bottom of the table, their worst campaign for over 40 seasons, but with Louis helping to put together a much more competitive side interest in the club has risen by several gears with season ticket sales going through the roof.

"It was difficult to maintain enthusiasm when we were losing every meeting," added 25-year-old Nicholls, who is staging his testimonial meeting at Foxhall on July 24.

"The year was a total disaster with everybody down in the dumps. Chris came back on board last autumn in a co-promoting role – and the club has taken off again.

"The shock news that he is going to ride again after two years out through injury is an added boost. I am sure he will be right up there with Hans Andersen and myself to give the Witches three high-scoring heat leaders that other sides will not be able to match.

"It was not a huge shock to me as I had seen Chris ride a few laps after some matches last season and could tell that he still had the feel for it. I figured that he would seriously consider a comeback."

Nicholls says that his chances of doing well in the Grand Prix series and with the Witches will improve because he will not be riding in the Polish League.

"There is more pressure riding in Poland than in the GP series," said Nicholls, who has just returned from a holiday in California that included some snowboarding with ex-Witch John Cook.

"They expect you to be a robot and score 15 points every match. With less travelling and less hassle I expect to benefit for Ipswich and in the Grand Prix."

Nicholls, who is to continue riding for Smederna in the Swedish League, is to continue to captain the Witches with Louis rider/manager and Mike Smillie team manager.

"We now have a great team on and off the track." He stressed.

Louis has agreed to take his place in the Tomas Topinka Testimonial meeting at King's Lynn on March 21. Topinka said: "Chris and I have always got on really well and I rode with him at Ipswich in 1999."