Ipswich Witches 2009 Squad

All pictures in this section are kindly provided by (and copyrighted to) Robyn Parr-Ferris.

1 Scott Nicholls 8.98    

After initially deciding to give racing in the UK a miss for the 2009 season Scott had a change of heart after a poor start to his GP campaign and Polish league racing. He made a return to the Elite League in June with his parent club Coventry as temporary cover for the injured Olly Allen. When Jarek Hampel announced his decision to quit British racing at the start of July the Ipswich promotion moved quickly to secure Scott's services for the remainder of the 2009 season. It is hoped that this move nearer to home will help Scott regain his form and also bring more league points for the team.

Website: http://www.nichollsracing.com/

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 8.98
  
• 2007 - 9.52
  
• 2006 - 8.78
  
• 2005 - 9.25
  

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2 Troy Batchelor 6.96    

Troy has been signed on loan from Swindon for the remainder of the 2009 season as a replacement for Piotr Swiderski.
The twenty four old from Brisbane, Australia started riding in the UK in 2006 with Kings Lynn in the Premier League and as the number 8 for Coventry. In 2007 he moved to Poole, on loan from Kings Lynn. 2008 saw him transferred to Swindon and he was also in their 2009 team until being sidelined by a scaphoid injury mid-May. Matej Zagar was brought in as temporary cover but was then kept on as a permanent replacement. This resulted in Troy being made available to other teams.

Website: http://www.spensites.co.uk/tbindex.html

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 6.96
  
• 2007 - 5.74
  
• 2006 - 3.60
  
• 2005 - 3.29
  

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3 Danny King 6.13    

Danny returns to Foxhall, to his parent club, after spending two years on loan with Elite League rivals Peterborough. In his time away Danny has increased his average by over a point and is now an established top division rider. He first rode for the Witches in the 2003 BLC campaign and then signed on at reserve in 2004. Since then he has made steady improvements and is expected to cement his position as a heat leader in 2009. Danny took over the team captaincy when Leigh Lanham was released from the team.

Website: http://www.dannykingracing.co.uk/

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 6.63 (6.13)
  
• 2007 - 6.15
  
• 2006 - 5.58
  
• 2005 - 3.83
  

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4 Tobias Kroner 5.67  

Toby again made huge strides last year in what was only his second full season of Elite League racing. He successfully made the transition from reserve into the main body of the team. He joined the Witches as a replacement for Jan Jaroš midway through the 2006 season and has been ever present since. He made several impressive performances at Foxhall, and in 2008 made substantial improvements to his away form. His continued improvement is vital to the Witches and he is one of a crop of talented young German riders currently in the Elite League.

Website: http://www.kroner-speedway.de/

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 6.67 (5.89)
  
• 2007 - 5.65
  
• 2006 - 3.75
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

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5 Robert Miskowiak 5.66    

Robert returned to the team as a replacement for Leigh Lanham mid-June. After spending 2006-2008 as a member of the Ipswich team he was not included in the 2009 line-up and it is hoped that this will make him more determined to demonstrate what he is capable of for the rest of the season.

Website: http://www.miskowiak.com/

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 5.52
  
• 2007 - 6.69
  
• 2006 - 5.84
  
• 2005 - 5.92 

 

 

 

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6 Dawid Stachyra 4.00    

Dawid joins the Witches for 2009 confirming the close links that the Witches have with Polish riders. Dawid rode for Rzeszow in the Polish EkstraLiga in 2008 and prior to that rode for TZ Lublin in Liga 1. He made his first Foxhall appearance in the Annual 16 Lap Classic meeting in October 2008, scoring 5 points.

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - n/a
  
• 2007 - n/a
  
• 2006 - n/a
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

 

 

 

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7 Carl Wilkinson (d/u) 3.03   

"Wilko" is named as one of the clubs double up riders for 2009 and will share the position with young Australian prospect Kozza Smith. "Wilko" first burst onto the scene at Elite League level in 2005 when he stormed to an impressive 9 point haul for the Witches at Peterborough. The following year he became the Witches No 8 and attained a 4.49 average from ten meetings.

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - n/a
  
• 2007 - n/a
  
• 2006 - n/a
  
• 2005 - 4.49
  

 

7 Kozza Smith (d/u) 3.00    

Kozza Smith shares the double up position with Carl Wilkinson. Smith is another of a generation of promising young Aussies.
In his first season in the PL (2008) he achieved a very impressive 5.38 average for Kings Lynn and is set to star for them again in 2009.

Website: http://www.kozzasmithracing.com/index.htm

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - n/a
  
• 2007 - n/a
  
• 2006 - n/a
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

 

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no 8 Jerran Hart - 3.00    

picture to follow

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Riders who have also ridden in 2009

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Morten Risager - 4.42

Morten joined the Witches as a short term replacement for former skipper Leigh Lanham who was injured in the opening match of the season. Morten had experience in the UK riding for Coventry, Eastbourne and Peterborough and impressed withe Witches promotion / fans during his months stay with the side. During his time in the Elite League with the Witches the former World U21 Finalist averaged around 5 points a meeting and subsequently, after leaving the Witches, joined Belle Vue.

Website: http://www.mortenrisager.dk/

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - n/a
  
• 2007 - n/a
  
• 2006 - n/a
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

 

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Jarek Hampel 8.28    

The Polish GP star returns to the UK for a second consecutive season after spending several years away from the British League. Since his first stint with the Witches that ended in 2003, his career has blossomed particularly in his homeland where he has established himself as an out and out superstar and GP series regular. Unfortunately he lost his place for the 2008 series after he missed some of the 2007 GPs through injury, his loss was the Witches fans gain as it paved the way for his return to Foxhall. Since 2003 Jarek has also been part of the Polish World Cup winning squad in 2006.

Website: http://www.hampelracing.com

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 8.74 (8.28)
  
• 2007 - n/a
  
• 2006 - n/a
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

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Piotr Swiderski 7.65    

Piotr was a huge hit in his first season at Foxhall and his return for 2009 was greeted with universal approval. He first linked up with the Peterborough Panthers in 2006 and returned to ride for them in 2007 after an impressive debut season upping his average by a point to 6.15. His never say die attitude and stunning performances from the No 1 race jacket ensured he received a recall to the Witches team - again on a season long loan from Peterborough. The promotion hope he will continue to make improvements, after having adapting well to a new track last season. Ultimately he has the talent to be a success and go much further in the sport.

Website: http://www.piotrswiderski.com.pl/

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 8.37 (7.65)
  
• 2007 - 6.15
  
• 2006 - 5.19
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

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Leigh Lanham 5.08    

Leigh returns to ride for his hometown club after spending many years away from Foxhall on loan to local rivals Lakeside. Leigh began his career as a 16 year old in 1993 with the Witches and remained at Foxhall until 1996. He rode for the Exeter Falcons for a season before linking with the Hammers in 1998 and he continued at Purfleet until this winter when he was made surplus to requirements. Leigh did spend one season riding for the Witches in the SSEL - 2003 when he rode in the doubling up capacity, permissable as the Hammers were a Premier League side at the time. In this season he achieved a respectable 4.83 average from 12 matches.

Finishing Average - 4 year guide (no BP average)

• 2008 - 6.85 (5.08)
  
• 2007 - n/a
  
• 2006 - n/a
  
• 2005 - n/a
  

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