New Witches star, Rohan Tungate, has admitted he had plenty of other offers from Premier League clubs for next season – but always felt Ipswich was the place to go.

SPEEDWAY: New Witches star Rohan Tungate has admitted he had plenty of other offers from Premier League clubs for next season – but always felt Ipswich was the place to go.

The 21-year-old Aussie, from Kurri Kurri in New South Wales, will come into the Witches’ 2012 line-up on an average of 5.00. And he could be part of an exciting reserve partnership with fellow Australian, Cameron Heeps.

With Kevin Doolan a confirmed starter for the Suffolk side next season, and Taylor Poole likely to rejoin the Witches too, there could be at least four Aussies in the Witches’ 2012 team.

And it was that Australian influence at Foxhall that helped Tungate make up his mind to join the Witches.

Speaking from his Kurri Kurri home last night, he said: “I had a few Premier League clubs wanting me to sign, but Ipswich had been talking to me and I’ve only heard good reports about the way the club is run.

“I’ve only been riding speedway for two years and came over to England to try and get a few rides this year.

“It all went well and I’m really pleased to be signing for Ipswich. I know Kevin Doolan and Taylor Poole, so it will be great to join up with them in a team. I want to do my best and see what happens.”

Tungate is a six-times Australian dirt-track champion, but has been doing mainly road racing in recent years.

“I didn’t turn to speedway until I was 19, it was mostly dirt and flat track racing,” he said.

Tungate rode a few meetings in England last season, performing well in two individuals at Redcar, and scoring 10 points from four rides for Coventry in a four-team tournament at Leicester.

Witches director of speedway Chris Louis said: “I think this could be the first time Ipswich has had two new assets at reserve at the start of the season for many years.

“I’m very excited about both Cameron (Heeps) and Rohan.

“I did say that dropping down to the Premier League was a chance for us to rebuild the club.

“I think the captures of Cam and Rohan signify that is what we are doing.

“Ipswich Speedway has a long-standing tradition of being at the top of the sport in this country.

“And as much as I enjoy the Premier League, I don’t want us to become a conveyor belt of talent for other Elite League tracks.”

Tungate arrives in Ipswich in March and has already bought two bikes off fellow Aussie Richard Sweetman.