Ben Barker is back in a Witches race suit and will lead the team at Edinburgh Monarchs in tonight’s crucial Premier League clash.

Ben Barker is back in a Witches race suit and will lead the team at Edinburgh Monarchs in Tuesday night’s crucial Premier League clash.

That’s the incredible news that greets Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches fans as their No.1 star rider has declared himself fit to return to track action, just two weeks after being told his season was over.

Barker, 25, was involved in a track crash at Birmingham on August 29 when an initial diagnosis of crushed vertabrae suggested his season was finished. However, as was reported in the Ipswich Star and EADT yesterday, it has transpired that as the days wore on, surgeons were not sure whether the injuries were old ones – and with that no surgery took place.

Now Barker has said he will race again.

“It’s been a hard two weeks since my crash. I was 20 minutes away from a major back operation before we found out it was an old injury which was partially healed over the past year,” said Barker.

“After much discussion and advice I have decided not to have an operation but I will be having extensive physio for the remainder of the season.”

“I’m surprised I must admit, I thought there was no hope of Ben racing again this season,” Witches director of speedway Chris Louis said. “Ben’s been given the green light, or more likely the amber one knowing him, but it’s just great news for our fans and for the team.

“He wanted to return to the team tonight at Edinburgh and I’m all for that. He’ll be at Foxhall on Thursday if all goes well at Edinburgh.

“Of course he needs to ride himself back to a bit of fitness. But knowing Ben it won’t take him long.”

The Witches travel to Edinburgh tonight with Barker at one and Joe Jacobs riding at reserve, with Ritchie Hawkins still not fit.