SPEEDWAY: Ipswich Witches asset Tobi Kroner is planning to quit speedway and work in a bank.

The 24-year-old German was left out of the Witches team this season, and he says this had a big effect on his decision.

He eventually joined Belle Vue and scored well in his opening meetings, but his scoring fell away and he soon departed the Manchester-based club.

Perfectionist Kroner has no intention of accepting being a run of the mill rider, and is set to turn the shale sport into a hobby with continental meetings at weekends.

“I’m training to work in a bank, and I see this as my future,” said Kroner, who is spending this week in Ipswich while on holiday.

“I don’t want to just have a nondescript speedway career and look back when I’m 35 and find that I’d achieved little.

“By that time I could have my own business based on the banking profession.

“Failing to get into the 2010 Ipswich team had a big bearing in my decision, and spending the winter without any gainful employment can be hard on the pocket.

“I still love riding speedway though, but it will now be a hobby and done at weekends.

“I enjoyed it at first at Belle Vue then it fell apart. I don‘t really know why, but it did not feel right.”

Always highly professional and with the help of Mark Loram where he was based while in England, Kroner is regarded by many to have the talent to make it big.

But he said: “Only 10 to 12 riders in the world are making it big.

“The rest are always wondering whether they will have employment and where that will be.

“Next year I will continue my banking training and will be available to ride speedway.

“So perhaps things could change - who knows?

“But at the moment I’m looking to get myself qualified for a career outside speedway that will commence in 2012.”