TOBIAS Kroner is confident he can handle the small Arena-Essex circuit when he makes his Ipswich debut at Purfleet tonight (start 7.45pm).The 20-year-old has a 220 metre track a stone's throw from his house - and he has use of it whenever he wants.

By Elvin King

TOBIAS Kroner is confident he can handle the small Arena-Essex circuit when he makes his Ipswich debut at Purfleet tonight (start 7.45pm).

The 20-year-old has a 220 metre track a stone's throw from his house - and he has use of it whenever he wants.

“It is run by my father Josef at Dohren,” said Kroner, who learned his speedway there before progressing to top German League club MSC Diedenbergen.

Kroner, who has taken the place of Jan Jaros in the Witches side, added: “I have been waiting all my career for this moment. I am ready for a new challenge.”

He rode for Oxford last season in his first taste of Elite League action, and has already ridden at every Elite League circuit apart from Ipswich and Arena-Essex.

“When I rode for Oxford I was in the team proper and it was very hard,” added Kroner. “Now I will be at reserve and I have been able to get my equipment sorted out.

“I am also used to the big tracks in Germany so I am confident I can do well for Ipswich.”

Kroner attended Ipswich's Press Day in March but was unable to get in any action because of rain.

Riding for Germany in the world team junior Cup qualifier, Kroner scored double figures earlier this month. He will be an Ipswich asset and be based in the area.

Witches rider/manager Chris Louis said: “All the ingredients are there for Tobias to become one of our young breed of assets who will hopefully serve the club for many years.

“We had to make the move now so that Tobias will be firing on all cylinders at the nitty-gritty stage of the season in August and early September.”

The Witches have every chance of collecting their second away league victory of the season tonight. The Purfleet-based side have been decimated by injury and are only expected to track three of their normal side.

Witches asset Mariusz Puszakowski became the latest victim when he broke a leg riding at Poole on Monday. The Pole crashed in heat four of the Hammers' 66-24 defeat and joins Michael Max, Henning Bager and Paul Hurry on the sidelines tonight.

Max is riding in the Swedish Championship tonight, while Bager is out for another week with a shoulder injury. Hurry is not expected back for a month with a rig problem.

On the plus side, Joonas Kylmakorpi will make his Arena return from a broken collarbone if he came through a Swedish League meeting last night.

Arena hope to use Scott Nicholls as a guest but he was involved in a crash in Poland on Sunday and is doubtful with Saturday's Danish Grand Prix in mind.

Brent Werner comes in at No.6, with a Premier League guest up to an average of 7.5 at seven, and both will be busy as the rider replacement facility for Bager means Leigh Lanham and the two reserves are eligible for extra rides.

Kim Jansson misses out because of the Swedish Championship, which means extra rides for Chris Louis, Robert Miskowiak and the two reserves.

Tonight's line-ups

Arena-Essex: A N Other, rider replacement for H Bager, S Johnston, L Lanham, J Kylmakorpi, B Werner, A N Other.

Ipswich: P Protasiewicz, rider replacement for K Jansson, R Miskowiak, C Louis, M Loram, D King, T Kroner.