Danny King column: Cromer is nice and I get my hands dirty as a spanner man!

Cameron Heeps (blue) and Rory Schlein lead Mikkel B Andersen in the opening heat against Redcar recently Picture: Steve Waller www.stephenwaller.com (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

I’m not saying my season is over because I’m very much hoping it isn’t.

In fact, with a muscle injury, the feeling could come back overnight and suddenly things may improve rapidly.

So, while at the moment the injury is still very frustrating, I feel I am making slow progress. I get little shooting pains once in a while in my arm. Hopefully that’s a good sign.

But if things haven’t improved by September, then I could be looking at an operation.

It’s just a waiting game and there is nothing more I can do than that.

Unless something dramatic was to suddenly happen, it’s going to be a time thing. Just waiting and seeing.

Nico Covatti and Mark Riss congratulate each other on a 5-1 against Redcar Picture: Steve Waller www.stephenwaller.com (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

I’m spending the week in Cromer in a lovely caravan.

Clara and the boys usually have a week in Cromer at this time of the summer, but I’m usually hurtling about racing. Not this year though.

So, it has been nice to spend time as a family, although right on cue when we arrived on Saturday it started to rain!

But it has brightened up since and we have been to see the seals and enjoyed a BBQ or two.

I’m intending to come to Foxhall on Thursday to give the boys my support.

In fact, I was at Redcar last Thursday looking to give the boys my support there.

However, I ended up doing more than just handing out a few supportive words.

Coty Garcia, at reserve for the Witches (Image: Archant)

Coty Garcia needed a mechanic and I stepped in.

It’s not often I have to be the spanner man, but I enjoyed helping him, even though I got my nice t-shirt dirty – Clara was not impressed.

As we all know now, the Witches recorded a fantastic win and Coty was worth much more than the points he scored.

It really was a win we needed.

I was a bit worried going up to Redcar as they pushed us really close at Foxhall the week previous and had strengthened a bit.

But I need not have worried, the boys were right on it and four points is just what the doctor ordered.

Drew Kemp blue helmet in action for Mildenhall. He links up with the Witches, as well as the Fen Tigers later this month Picture: CAROL DOWNIE

I still think we are still in a good position in the Championship table.

I must admit Lakeside, Peterborough and to a lesser extent Glasgow, are looking good in the top three.

But there are loads of points up for grabs and of course if we can get a few off Lakeside on Thursday and Friday, they that will be a big boost.

We also go to Peterborough on Sunday – three big meetings in three days.

And we still have to ride Glasgow home and away.

Basically, the season is still very much in our own hands, so it’s up to us, but certainly if Mark Riss continues the form he has shown since he joined us and Coty Garcia starts to get among the points, we will have a powerful side – especially when Drew Kemp joins us in the middle of the month.

Talking of Drew Kemp, he’s a very switched on young man.

I’ve been speaking to him a bit more of late and I must admit to being impressed with his attitude and manner.

He’s a good lad.

On track, he looks so smooth and I’m sure he is going to be a real plus for the Witches not just this season, but in the many seasons ahead.

But he is under no pressure whatsoever from the Witches management.

He will just be asked to go out, enjoy himself and do his best.

In fact he reminds me a bit of myself when I first rode for the Witches as a 16-year-old.

It’s a big jump and I have no doubt Drew has been told that by lots of people.

But if you ask me, it is a jump he should take – I’m glad I did and it didn’t do me any harm.

In fact it dragged me along a huge amount.

I’ll never forget my Witches team-mates Hans Andersen, Chris Louis and Scott Nicholls taking one look at my bikes when I first rocked up to join the Witches as a wide-eyed teenager.

They pulled most of the bike apart. ‘You won’t need that’, ‘We’ll get a different one of them’.

It was a bit brutal, but was really worth it. The help I got from those guys put me on course for better things.

Not that I’m suggesting Drew will need his bike looking at – he’s very professional in the way he conducts himself.

But what I’m saying is, having more experienced riders around him will take him to another level.

So, a real toughie against Lakeside.

They destroyed Sheffield at Owlerton last Thursday and have beaten us twice at Foxhall already this season.

But we are a different team now.

Hope to see you at Foxhall on Thursday night.

Danny

AS TOLD TO MIKE BACON