IPSWICH ‘Sackers’ Witches director of speedway Chris Louis never had any doubts Cameron Heeps would hit the ground running this season.

IPSWICH ‘Sackers’ Witches director of speedway Chris Louis never had any doubts Cameron Heeps would hit the ground running this season.

Heeps, 17, suffered a nasty hand injury at the back end of the 2012 campaign but, despite a limited spell of racing in Australia in the winter, he has returned to England in fine form, with two double figure scores from the first three meetings.

“I didn’t believe for one second Cam would struggle,” Louis said.

“He’s had a sensible winter not doing too much but getting himself fit and strong.

“He certainly looks much fitter this season which is showing in his results.”

Louis has been a mentor for Heeps since his arrival in England as a 15-year-old and clearly plays a key role in the youngster’s development – on and off the track – something Heeps appreciates.

“Chris has always looked out for me and I appreciate that,” Heeps said.

“Moving to Ipswich this season has been a big help to me. Living at Mildenhall was great and the people were great, but now I have a workshop in Ipswich I share with Morten Risager and Rohan Tungate. Chris is often about too.

“It’s seeing the little things I can do to make my bike a bit better that makes me feel good on the bike.

“The social side is good too, it’s nice being around the boys and we all play a bit of squash too, although none of us have beaten Chris yet!”

Thursday night, Heeps and the Witches take on the tough-riding Somerset Rebels at Foxhall Heath.

Somerset beat the Witches by 20 points at their fast Oak Tree Arena circuit last week, but that was with Witches skipper injured after a heat four crash.

However, with Jari Makinen and Adam Ellis so far struggling to get among the points, the Witches will hope they and the rest of the side come good in what is set to be a tough League Cup encounter.

Ipswich Witches: B Barker, J Makinen, R Tungate, M Risager, L Lanham, A Ellis, C Heeps

Somerset Rebels: J Doyle, A Davies, J Grajczonek, K Newman, N Morris, T Perry, S Nielsen

Mike’s prediction: Witches 47 Rebels 43

Tweet Mike your prediction and he’ll retweet it @Mike_Bacon

MORE from Chris Louis in Thursday’s Ipswich Star, which includes the Leigh Lanham column