Ipswich Witches director of speedway, Chris Louis, is hoping his riders can ‘hit the ground running’ as the 2017 speedway fixtures were released on Tuesday.

The Suffolk side open their season at home to Sheffield on Saturday, March 25 – the first of three Saturday night dates at Foxhall for the Witches in their first four home meetings!

Last year the Witches lost their opening night meeting to Scunthorpe – and it took an age for their season to get up and running before team changes half-way through the season.

But Louis is confident his new-look septet for 2017 have what it takes, including dealing with the new track changes.

“I expect the boys to hit the ground running,” Louis said.

“Yes, we have made some track changes, but we will hopefully have a good couple of practise sessions in the week leading up to it.

“I think the racing will be more exciting, especially with the team we have put together – a real team of racers.

“Ideally I would have started with a challenge meeting, and I had hoped to race King’s Lynn, but it has been difficult getting all the riders in the country that early.”

The Witches have been boosted with the news that they have preference of use for both Danny King and Rory Schlein over any doubling-up with a Premiership club, although not for Poole’s Kyle Newman.

“I think it is only right that Ipswich have first call on both Danny and Rory, as neither actually has a Premiership club yet,” Louis added.

“I am sure they both will and I feel for everyone at Coventry, Leicester and Belle Vue. But I have to run my business and I have tried to accommodate fixtures so as not to clash with any of those clubs too much, should either Danny or Rory ride for them.

“And even when, or if, the pair do get a Championship club, we will still retain first choice.”

The Witches will again not be racing on Good Friday, but do entertain Peterborough on Easter Saturday (7.30pm), before travelling to the East of England Showground the next day.

Each team races each other home and away twice, while the Witches race Berwick in the first round of the knock-out cup, a two-legged clash early in the season.