FORMER Ipswich Witches speedway rider Chris Schramm feels he has been penalised for trying to further his career.The 24-year-old became a big favourite with Witches fans while riding at reserve in the Elite League in 2008.

Elvin King

FORMER Ipswich Witches speedway rider Chris Schramm feels he has been penalised for trying to further his career.

The 24-year-old became a big favourite with Witches fans while riding at reserve in the Elite League in 2008.

But his average was too high for him to keep his place in the top league this term, and the Essex-based rider has moved back to the Premier League with King's Lynn.

He feels his ambitions to become one of England's top riders has been knocked back by the system.

“It seems to me as a British rider I have been penalised for saying I'll take the step up and have a crack at trying to improve myself as a rider,” said Schramm.

“I wanted to stay in the Elite League and hoped I could maybe double up. But they said my Elite average was too high to allow that.

“It's a great shame, but I'm still up for riding in the top league in the future.

“It definitely helped me as a rider competing against the best week-in and week-out.”

Ipswich have said they would have had Schramm back this year, but his average last season proved too high for him to fit into the Foxhall Stadium-based club.

Schramm opened his Lynn account with a faultless 15 point paid maximum against Edinburgh Monarchs.

He feels it has set him up for a good year at Saddlebow Road and he added: “It was a good first meeting for me.

“I was trying to make an impression and feel I certainly did that. I've had a few guest meetings down the years but it's not a track I've ridden too often so I think that is a good sign.

“I'd had a few practice meetings and tested a few things and it seemed to work as I got a nice set-up going. I wanted to try and get in at King's Lynn because it's a lot more local than having to drive to Wales when I was at Newport or even Berwick in the past.”