STEVE JOHNSTON has fired an Aussie broadside at his team-mates telling them that in 2008 we “race together and work together.”It was all in good humour of course, as Johnston spoke at yesterday's Ipswich Evening Star Witches press and practice day at Foxhall Stadium.

Mike Bacon

STEVE JOHNSTON has fired an Aussie broadside at his team-mates telling them that in 2008 we “race together and work together.”

It was all in good humour of course, as Johnston spoke at yesterday's Ipswich Evening Star Witches press and practice day at Foxhall Stadium.

But there was a large degree of seriousness behind his sentiments. A fun-loving Aussie he may be, but Johnston has a deep desire to win.

The Kalgoorlie-born racer was a multi-cup and league winner at Coventry Bees last season and has re-joined the Witches this year after a year with them in 1997. And knowing what it takes to win, he made no bones about how he wants to see the next eight months of the Witches season pan out.

“I want to enjoy coming here every week to race,” said the Aussie, who is based in Swindon.

“I want us all to get along, we must help each other if someone is having an off-night and then we can enjoy winning.

“We won't win every meeting, we know that, but we must race together and work together. That way we will make our speedway fun.”

Johnston's outgoing personality is clearly going to be quite an asset for the Witches this year and at a bubbly press launch at Foxhall Stadium, with humour aplenty, the early signs are the Witches of 2008 are not going to lack team spirit.

“At Coventry last season I enjoyed every minute of it,” Johnston added.

“I started off at Oxford where everyone just did their own thing. It was painful. But when I moved to Coventry I have never experienced anything like it.”

Johnston's only other season with the Witches was back in 1997, where he finished the season with his highest-ever racing average.

Now in his 16th year of racing, he has been granted a benefit meeting at Coventry in June, an event sure to be well-attended by one of the sport's most popular racers.