Ipswich Witches No.1 Danny King feels the Suffolk side will have a target on their backs this year.

King ‘loves’ the new Ipswich line-up and is confident the Foxhall Heath-based side will enjoy a fruitful 2017.

Having returned from a family holiday in Florida, British champion King is already preparing for the new season – and is part of a Great Britain squad going to Croatia for practice early in March.

If the summer ahead can top 2016, King will be a happy man.

“It will be tough to top that,” King, who was not only British champion, but rode in the British GP and World Cup final, said.

“I feel in good shape though and we won’t be changing too many things. Why should we? Things went so well last year.”

But it is the Witches King was purring about now he has time to digest the Ipswich septet, who will be riding in the Championship next season.

The returning Cameron Heeps is joined by new signings Rory Schlein, and Kyle Newman in the top five, while both reserves Danyon Hume and Connor Mountain had spells for the Witches last season.

“I love the line-up, love it,” King said.

“I think it is safe to say already we will be the team with the target on its back.

“Our top five is very strong, while our two reserves are full of potential.

“In Rory Schlein, the club have a great rider and I have someone who is going to seriously challenge me for the No.1 race jacket – I know he is.

“Not that he’ll get it of course,” King laughingly added.

“Nico (Covatti) is another who I know is investing in good equipment and he is capable of pushing his average up, while the two reserves have shown what they can do.

“They will learn much and develop quickly, I’m sure.”

Meanwhile, Newman is another who feels the Witches really should be up among the front runners in 2017.

“I’ve been working hard through the off season to keep my fitness up. I struggled at times last year with injuries but going into the new season I will be in the best shape possible,” he said.

“Chris (Louis) and the promotion at Ipswich have put together a side that I think can challenge on all fronts next season.

“With the changes to the points limit it was always going to be difficult to put together a competitive side, and we all know how hard this league can be.

“From my point of view I think I will benefit from being at a club that has the stability that Ipswich does. I can concentrate fully on my racing and I won’t have to worry about off track issues.

“I would expect to add to my average next season. That’s my target at Championship level and if I do I think as a team we can achieve great things.”

Let me know your thoughts of the Witches 2017. Like it? Love it? Hate it? E-mail: mike.bacon@archant.co.uk