IPSWICH Witches' heat leader Mark Loram stressed that the Witches must work on getting better scores in heats 13 and 15 if they are to enjoy any success this season.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Witches' heat leader Mark Loram stressed that the Witches must work on getting better scores in heats 13 and 15 if they are to enjoy any success this season.

The 2000 world champion, who finished third and second in those races at Swindon last night, said: “This will be the key to any success that might come our way.

“Our second string riders and reserves will, I am sure, be able to more than hold their own in the way that we have built our side, but that will mean nothing if we cannot contain the opponents' top men in heats 13 and 15.

“It was a strange night as I felt I was riding well and I was certainly trying my heart out.

“I am not disappointed in my form, but I was very disappointed in my starting.

“If you can't get away from the tapes, then you are giving yourself so much to do and this was the case in this match.

“We should not be downhearted, as it is a difficult place to ride, while the track was okay, but it would only have taken a little more rain to have turned it into a farce.”

Mike Smillie, the Ipswich team manager, added: “It is certainly a score we can pull back, as I think Swindon will ride as poorly at Foxhall as we did at Swindon.

“Their reserves and second strings are mostly unfamiliar with the place, although Seb Ulamek could be a danger.

“We kept the score just about within catchable proportions and it is not that much of a disappointment as to come here and run Swindon close at this stage of the season would have taken an exceptional performance.”