CHRIS Schramm is predicting a trophy-winning season for Ipswich Witches.

CHRIS Schramm is predicting a trophy-winning season for Ipswich Witches.

The 26-year-old Maldon-based racer returns to Foxhall Heath in 2011 for a season that starts in just over two months.

And apart from being happy racing for his local club, Schramm is also more than happy with the Premier League line-up Ipswich have assembled.

“The team looks great,” he said.

“If everyone in the side gels and does their job, I can see us winning a few trophies this season.”

Schramm’s optimism is shared by many in the sport, who see Chris Louis’ side being up among the title favourites from the off.

Although Premier League racing is the second tier of the sport in Great Britain, Schramm thinks the Witches fans, so used to Elite League racing over the last decade, will get great value for their money.

“The fans will enjoy Premier League racing,” Schramm said.

“The riders give it everything and I think the racing will be better. I like the Foxhall track and got double figure scores for both Belle Vue and Eastbourne in the Elite League last year, so I’m really looking forward to the season.”

Schramm is currently working at Yardley Engineering, just outside Maldon, making Land Rover parts. It is a job he hopes to hang onto throughout the summer.

“I’m enjoying working at Yardley and the boss has told me I can have time off to race throughout the season,” he said.

“It would be nice to race speedway full-time, but it’s more a hobby that pays for itself.”

Schramm rode for the Witches in 2007 and 2008, proving a popular racer with the fans. He even went as far as to have his chest and head shaved to help raise money for the Kim Jansson Fund.

His contribution on track however will be vital if the Witches are to enjoy a successful 2011. With the likes of teen stars Lasse Bjerre, Taylor Poole and Jerran Hart hoping to begin to show their potential, it will be down the more experienced racers like Schramm to be a big influence in the pits.

SCHRAMM FACTFILE

Name: Chris Schramm

Date of Birth: 30/05/1984

Birthplace: Maldon, Essex

Height: 5’8. Weight: 10 st 12

Eyes: Blue

Shoe Size: 9

Ideal night out: Pictures and meal

School life: I am dyslexic, School was never easy

First job: Flower nursery

Lasting childhood memory: When I got my head stuck in the railings at home

Favourite food: Meat, meat and more meat!

Worst food: Veg.

Do you cook: Yes, I like cooking.

Favourite drink: JD

Favourite track: Eastbourne.

Worst track: Don’t really mind any of the tracks.

Favourite kind of track: Grippy.

Most admired riders: Tony Rickardson and Sam Ermolenko