CHRIS Schramm today committed himself to Ipswich Evening Star Witches for another season.“It is the only way to reach the top. And I want to reach the top,” he said.

Elvin King

CHRIS Schramm today committed himself to Ipswich Evening Star Witches for another season.

“It is the only way to reach the top. And I want to reach the top,” he said.

He admits he took a gamble when he moved full-time from the Premier League to the Elite League for the 2008 campaign. But he says that it was well worth it.

You can virtually count the number of British riders in speedway's top flight on the fingers of two hands, with most happy to take home good money by scoring heavily in the Premier League.

But Schramm, a gritty and determined character from Essex, has far more ambition.

He effectively works a full week at Tilbury Docks and is not adverse to taking on other jobs, like window cleaning, to supplement his speedway earnings.

“I had an average of under six in the Premier League in 2007,” said Schramm, who is a Mildenhall asset but would love to become an Ipswich one.

“So it was a gamble to move up full-time. I have made progress every season and I feel I have continued to do that this year.

“The best place to learn is by riding with top riders - and this is what I want to carry on doing next season.”

But Schramm is hoping the rules will be amended to allow him to double-up in 2009.

“The more rides I have the more I will progress and 80 or 90 meetings next year would be ideal,” he added.

Witches team Pete Simmons confirmed Schramm's value to the team, saying: “He was rather unlucky to be taken out of one race tonight as he still did his job for us.

“And he has been doing this every week.”

And reflecting on the win, Simmons said: “It was ridiculous that we only won two of the opening 11 races. The state of the track at the starts was how our riders like it but, thankfully, they got it right and did as required in the final four heats.“

Witches skipper Steve Johnson, who kept some Ipswich momentum going when the chips were down last night and then winning heat 14, said: “Wolves are bottom of the table but there was no complacency. Wolves made us work hard and we fought our way through in the end.”

Wolves team manager Peter Adams said: “I have to be honest and say that an eight-point win flattered Ipswich.”