SPEEDWAY: Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches skipper, Kevin Doolan, has said there will no shortage of ‘fire in the bellies’ of the 2012 Witches.

SPEEDWAY: Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches skipper, Kevin Doolan, has said there will no shortage of ‘fire in the bellies’ of the 2012 Witches.

Commenting for the first time on the Witches new side for next season, Doolan is confident the Foxhall fans are set for thrilling racing.

“There will be fire in the bellies of this Witches team,” he said.

“Certainly more than last season, it is something we missed at certain times.

“But if we are to succeed, we must take the pressure off our young reserves. They (Rohan Tungate and Cameron Heeps) are key to our season, but we can’t go leaving it all up to them.”

Back at his Sheffield base, and with snow on the ground in Yorkshire, Doolan is looking forward to warmer days and the start of the season in March.

It’s a year he hopes he can do better throughout and end up with an average far in excess of his current 7.19. He has no doubt what will help him.

“I want to get some Elite League racing under my belt, as well as riding for Ipswich,” he said.

“In the past few years, I have had my best seasons when I have had 15 or so Elite League meetings, whether as a guest or as a doubling-up rider. At the moment, I’ve had a few conversations with EL clubs, but I’m not doubling-up with anyone at present.”

But back to the Aussie youngsters at Foxhall, Doolan will have to look out for in 2012.

With Taylor Poole (19), Cameron Heeps (16), Dakota North (19) and 21-year-old rookie, Rohan Tungate, all going to need his experience, Doolan will be busy in the pits. Something that suits him.

“I enjoy helping out people,” he added.

“If I don’t wander around the pits talking and helping out, it doesn’t help me. I tend to have a short attention span, I get bored easily, so enjoy keeping busy.”

And busy is something Doolan is likely to do.

Next season is crucial for him, not just because he has so much experience to pass on, but because from a personal viewpoint, he will want to get things back on track after a disappointing 2011.

n BACON’S speedway blog www.eveningstar.co.uk