WORLD champion Tony Rickardsson today revealed that he is to carry on racing when his speedway career finishes at the end of this season.He plans to develop a career in motor racing and has set his sights on a top-three finish driving a Porsche in the Scandinavian Championship in 2007.

By Elvin King

WORLD champion Tony Rickardsson today revealed that he is to carry on racing when his speedway career finishes at the end of this season.

He plans to develop a career in motor racing and has set his sights on a top-three finish

driving a Porsche in the Scandinavian Championship in 2007.

The 35-year-old Swede will be riding at Foxhall Stadium for the last night tonight when Oxford Cheetahs take on Ipswich Evening Star Witches in the Elite League (start 7.30pm).

His presence is bound to attract a large crowd as Rickardsson is an Ipswich asset who first rode for the club in 1991 and was part of their magnificent treble-winning 1998 side.

“I love Foxhall as a raceway and I love Ipswich fans who have always been great to me,” said the six-time world champion.

“Joining Ipswich shaped my career.

“This is definitely my last year in speedway, but I would love to come to Foxhall as a spectator in the future.”

Rickardsson is driving in the Scandinavian Championships this year having taken part in testing at Silverstone this winter.

“If I can get through this year without any mishaps, I have set my stall on a top three finish in 2007,” he added. “It is whole new challenge for me.”

Rickardsson, who could make it a record seven world speedway titles this season - beating Ivan Mauger's six - scorched to 16 points for Oxford in last night's meeting at Sunday Lane that Ipswich won 42-51.

And he will be the main danger when the Witches look to make it a quick-fire double tonight.

Rickardsson is the first to admit that he is using the Elite League as early season practice before quitting in six weeks time to concentrate on the Grand Prix and the Swedish and Polish Leagues.

This has caused criticism from some quarters, but Rickardsson's dedication to speedway over the years should not be underestimated.

“Riding for Ipswich in 1998 was a special year for me - one of my very best,” he said.

Ipswich and Oxford have announced unchanged teams for a meeting sponsored by Anglian Self Drive.

Tonight's line-ups

Ipswich: C Louis, K Jansson, P Protasiewicz, R Miskowiak, M Loram, J Jaros, D King. Team manager: Mike Smillie.

Oxford: D Howe, E Andersson, D Watt, A Skornicki, T Rickardsson, A Pietraszko, L Tomicek. Team manager: Graeme Gordon