MARK Loram continues the slow rehabilitation from his season-finishing injury but admits he is getting satisfaction from seeing the Ipswich Witches begin to get results.

By Mike Bacon

MARK Loram continues the slow rehabilitation from his season-finishing injury but admits he is getting satisfaction from seeing the Ipswich Witches begin to get results.

The Suffolk side entertain Swindon Robins at Foxhall tonight in the Sky Sports Elite League, looking for their seventh straight home win. It's sound form, although the Wiltshire side are likely to provide the stiffest test the Witches have faced during their unbeaten run.

“Swindon will be very tough,” Loram said. “The last few weeks the team have been getting it together and there is no reason we shouldn't move a few places up the league table. But Swindon are a top side and will be difficult to crack.”

Of all the better sides in the Elite League over the past few seasons, Swindon have one of the poorest records at Foxhall. Although the imperious Leigh Adams has always shone, many of the Robins have been very hit and miss. However Ipswich's six home victories on the bounce have all been against sides without one Grand Prix rider in their line-up and Adams becomes the first GP star to race at Foxhall since April 19, when Poole were at Ipswich, the last time the Witches lost at home.

Now settled with a regular 1-7, the Witches will relish tonight's challenge, with the returning Jesper B Jensen looking to follow up last Thursday's impressive debut with another big score.

“It was a good move to get Jesper back in the side,” Loram added.

“Oxford never saw the best of him and he has been riding well everywhere else. In different surroundings at Ipswich, he will flourish.”

While Ipswich are at full strength, with Zibi Suchecki returning to the side after missing last week through concussion, Swindon will use rider replacement for Mads Korneliussen, who has two broken bones in his hand.

With Lee Richardson, Seb Ulamek and Charlie Gjedde all available for an extra ride, it clearly strengthens the visitors, who will be looking for two points to strengthen their grip at the summit of the table.

Reserve Tomasz Chrzanowski is currently averaging more than seven points a meeting and moves into the main body of the Swindon side next week. Tonight he will be crucial to them, assuming he has recovered from a continued bout of tonsillitis which is stop-starting his season and may see him requiring an operation.

A recent 45-all draw at Poole shows the strength Swindon enjoy and there will be little scope for any underachievers in the home ranks tonight if the Witches want to make it a magnificent seven.

Tonight's teams

Ipswich: 1 J Jensen, 2 K Jansson, 3 C Louis, 4 Z Suchecki, 5 R Miskowiak, 6 M Rempala, 7 T Kroner.

Swindon: 1 L Adams, 2 Rider replacement, 3 S Ulamek, 4 C Gjedde, 5 L Richardson, 6 A Moore, 7 T Chrzanowski.