We're improving all the time, says Louis

By Mike Bacon

IPSWICH Evening Star Witches captain Chris Louis looked back on a dramatic night's speedway at Foxhall Stadium last night and admitted it was still hard to gauge exactly where his side stand right now.

Their crushing victory over Belle Vue was as commanding as the scoreline suggests, but the horror crash involving Simon Stead, plus the withdrawal of James Wright after another frightening spill, meant the Witches had not been tested to the full.

Coming hard on the heels of Reading and East-bourne's weakened sides at Foxhall, the Witches have now rattled up 60 points in their last three home meetings.

“I think it's fair to say we are improving and doing well, but our opponents have not been at full strength in the last three home meetings,” said Louis.

“We have been riding well, but I know people will say it has been against sides who have had their problems and we haven't been tested. However, we can only go out and do the job.”

Louis was quick to praise the Ipswich track and the excellent condition it is in.

“I will probably get slaughtered for saying this, but I think only Eastbourne and Coventry put the time and effort into track preparation as we do here at Ipswich and that is why the racing is so good,” he added.

“I said at the beginning of the season we would struggle on our travels because we have two riders who have never been to most of the British tracks before.

“However, we are learning and I am sure our fans can see that.

“Our home form is really pleasing and there aren't many who would have thought we would have got 60 points against sides three weeks running.”

Much of last night was dominated by Stead's awful crash in heat five which could have been a case of his throttle jamming open, or him clipping Zibi Suchecki's back wheel as Stead went into turn three on the final lap, or even a combination of both.

Whatever happened, it was a bad one and all speedway fans will hope the young British star will make a full recovery soon.

Kim Jannson said: “This year there does seem to have been a lot of bad crashes. Some years you do seem to get this more than others.”

Jansson added: “I was so disappointed with my final ride. At Poole on Wednesday my engine was getting worse.

“Tonight I changed engines and it paid off, but I just can't seem to put four rides together.”

Witches' guest Adam Shields said: “It never rains but it pours when you are at the wrong end of the table and Belle Vue found that tonight.

“I'm enjoying my regular Thursday night bookings for the Witches as it fills the week up and I love riding at Foxhall.”

Witches' club coach Jeremy Doncaster said: “The crashes that are happening are a bit alarming. Stead's bike seemed to rev up and take off.

“Engines today have more revs than when I rode. They have more energy and that showed as his bike just took off.”

Stead suffered abdominal and back injuries in the crash, while Wright looked totally out of it after his crash in heat 11 and his withdrawal left the Aces with just four fit riders.