CURRENT World Under-21 champion Karol Zabik could make it three Polish riders in the 2007 Ipswich Witches speedway team.The 20-year-old rode briefly for Peterborough in 2006 and suffered a nasty facial injury late in the campaign.

By Elvin King

CURRENT World Under-21 champion Karol Zabik could make it three Polish riders in the 2007 Ipswich Witches speedway team.

The 20-year-old rode briefly for Peterborough in 2006 and suffered a nasty facial injury late in the campaign.

He has confirmed that Ipswich have asked him to join them - and if he does move to Foxhall Stadium it will be with an assessed 4.00 average.

Zabik has been pencilled in with young Dane Nicolai Klindt and Australian Chris Holder to be part of the Poole team in 2008.

But he is free to ride in England this year, although he has still to make up his mind.

Recognised as one of the most promising riders currently riding in Poland, Zabik scored a paid 15 points riding for Peterborough at Poole last year before having an apparent disagreement with the Panthers management.

He has signed his first professional contract to ride for his home-town club Torun in the Polish League.

“My wish this year - and in the future - is to ride without any injuries,” he said.

Robert Miskowiak, the 2004 world Under-21 champion, and Marcin Rempala are the two Poles who have already signed 2007 contracts for Ipswich.

Ipswich have so far confirmed five riders for this season - Mark Loram, Chris Louis, Kim Jansson, Miskowiak and Rempala - with 21-year-old German Tobi Kroner waiting in the wings.

They are running out of six or seven-point riders to give top end back-up to Loram and Louis, with promoter John Louis admitting that there are not enough to go around.

Daniel King has handed in a written transfer request, and looks set to move to Peterborough.

But the youngster, who has signed a two-year deal to ride for Ostrow in the Polish League, will not be released until the Witches have found a replacement.

n IT is to be the richest race in the history of motor sport.

The winner of the final of the 2007 German speedway Grand Prix in Gelsenkirchen, Germany will pocket $100,000.

And for 60 seconds' work it beats the £millions earned by Formula One drivers and even dwarfs the £50 a minute that footballer David Beckham will accrue from his contract with LA Galaxy.

The speedway event at a venue used for the 2006 football World Cup finals, is to be held on Saturday, October 13 and will be the 100th Grand Prix since the series' conception in 1995.

Three-time former world champion Ole Olsen is now the GP race director and he added: “I only wish I was young enough to give the top riders in the world a run for their money in the final race - $100,000 may give me the incentive to get back on a bike!”