IPSWICH Witches promoter John Louis was almost lost for words on what he witnessed at Foxhall Stadium last night.With hopes always high on opening night, Louis was reduced to shaking his head in disbelief at the crashes that had reduced his side to just five fit riders.

Mike Bacon

IPSWICH Witches promoter John Louis was almost lost for words on what he witnessed at Foxhall Stadium last night.

With hopes always high on opening night, Louis was reduced to shaking his head in disbelief at the crashes that had reduced his side to just five fit riders.

“I must admit I don't really know what to say,” Louis said.

“I've watched all the boys the last couple of days at press and practice days and they've all looked so good. In fact they've looked really super.

“But tonight, I don't quite know what more could have gone wrong.

“I just hope our two boys are OK.”

Witches star Danny King admitted all the stoppages and crashes had affected many of the team.

“It's just been a bad night to be honest,” he said.

“No-one wants to see all that and no-one enjoys hanging around for the time we did. I really enjoyed my first two rides and was really up for it, but than Leigh has that horrible crash and it just knocks you a bit.

“It's not the start we needed.”

n A patched-up Ipswich Witches side travel to Lakeside tonight for the return leg of last night's challenge fixture.

The Suffolk side are likely to use rider replacement for Leigh Lanham and will be hunting round for a reserve replacement for Kozza Smith.

Lakeside are unchanged.