IPSWICH Witches boss Pete Simmons was delighted as his side turned on the style on a difficult track and at last showed their capabilities with their new-look team last night.

Mike Bacon

IPSWICH Witches boss Pete Simmons was delighted as his side turned on the style on a difficult track and at last showed their capabilities with their new-look team last night.

The Suffolk side tore into Eastbourne, to pick up all three points to lift themselves once more off the bottom of the Sky Sports Elite League.

Midweek wins for Poole and Belle Vue had put Ipswich back on the bottom of the table, but they moved up two places after last night's excellent performance.

All three sides, Poole, Belle Vue and Ipswich are looking stronger now, especially at home, and all will expect to finish the season strongly.

“Quite honestly, it was about time we started to ride like that,” Simmons said.

“The track was difficult, but huge credit to the track staff who got it raceworthy because at 6pm parts of it were under water after a really heavy shower at about 5pm.

“OK, it wasn't a classic, but we showed real determination and I was pleased with every rider.

“Carl Wilkinson was given a bit of a talking too before the meeting as he hasn't been scoring well of late and he really did well, you couldn't fault him.

“We are looking to get up into mid-table and a team like Eastbourne is a team we want to catch.

“With only four teams in the play-offs of course it is going to be almost impossible to get where we really wanted to be at the start of the season, but until it's mathematically impossible, we'll keep trying.”

The Witches are certainly a different team on and off the track these days, since the arrival of Scott Nicholls, Troy Batchelor and

Robert Miskowiak, as Miskowiak agreed.

“It is a good atmosphere in the team,” said the Pole.

“We all work together and Scott and Troy have come in and made a big difference on that.

“I'm riding as fast as I can, but I only have one bike here and I thank Chris Louis for lending me a second one, with Jarek (Hampel's) engines.

“It is not easy coming into a team half-way through the season, but I'm happy I have returned and I'm getting on well.

“The track wasn't easy and very demanding and it is important we just keep going.”

Last night's crowd was swelled by plenty of youngsters on the Heath, the Witches offering free admission for children under 15 throughout the summer holidays, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult.

And next week, with champions Poole in town, the first 250 children through the turnstiles will receive a free autograph book, as the Witches look to keep their winning home run going.

Before that however, they travel to Wolverhampton on Monday.