Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches director of speedway Chris Louis has heaped praise on the new Sky television deal that the sport has announced.

Thanks to it, Sky Sports will show live coverage of the Elite League for the next five years.

The agreement made with the British Speedway Promoters Association comprises of a minimum 25 meetings a year through the summer from March to October featuring the 10 teams from the League starting with the Elite Riders Championship at Coventry on Friday, March 21.

And Louis, a former Grand Prix star of many years and a former World No.3, who is an integral part of the presentation team for the satellite channel couldn’t be more delighted.

“It’s great news,” he said.

“The vast majority of sports fans have access to Sky and it’s great for our sport to receive the publicity.

“No-one does speedway like Sky have done over the years and I know speedway fans will be delighted.

“From a business point of view it gives the sport a bit of stability.

“We can plan ahead for the next five years knowing the television coverage will be there.

“It helps us entice sponsors and it is just an all round great advert for the sport.”