HE’S the Premier League’s star rider – and last night he signed for Ipswich Witches.

HE’S the Premier League’s star rider – and last night he signed for Ipswich Witches.

England World Cup racer Ben Barker will lead the Suffolk side in 2013 after they pulled off a major coup, getting the former Plymouth Devil and the league’s highest-averaged rider to agree terms at Foxhall.

Barker, 24, has put pen to paper as Ipswich promoter Chris Louis swooped to rid any notion that the Witches side of 2013 would be devoid of an out-and-out No.1.

And Barker hasn’t signed alone.

Young Englishman Adam Ellis, 16, has also signed for the Witches, as he and Barker top and tail a Witches 1-7 Louis hopes will seriously challenge for the Premier League title next year.

“I want to bring silverware to Ipswich, simple as that,” Barker said last night.

Meanwhile Louis was delighted with his first signings for next year.

“Obviously I want Ben to score big points home and away,” Louis said.

“But just as important, he is an entertainer and he will inspire the rest of team.”

Of Ellis, Louis admitted: “He is the Englishman with the most potential in the sport as far as I’m concerned and I’m happy to help him achieve that.”

More on this, quotes from Barker, Louis and Mike Bacon’s thoughts in today’s Ipswich Star.