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Post by schumi on Nov 3, 2008 19:43:55 GMT
IPSWICH say they are prepared to enter discussions with Polish star Jarek Hampel about a return to Foxhall in 2009. Hampel came back to British racing this season after several years away, having lost his place in the Grand Prix series at the end of 2007. He enjoyed a successful season as the Witches reached the play-offs, but he was unable to help them in the semi-final at Poole as he was serving a 28-day ban, officially for withholding his services - after a Polish fixture was re-arranged for the same day as the Witches were holding a double-header at Foxhall, the club electing to replace him with a guest. But Ipswich rider-manager Chris Louis has not ruled out the possibility of Hampel being in the team again next year - although he dismissed claims that the deal had already been done when the rider attended the club's final meeting of the season. Louis said: "He had some bits and pieces to sort out, and he wanted to come and watch. "We have not discussed 2009 with Jarek yet, but we will. He says he needs to re-charge his batteries, and we will talk when he returns from a family holiday in Egypt." From: www.speedwayworld.tv
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Post by schumi on Nov 7, 2008 7:01:23 GMT
And it looks like Tobi could be back too. There's an article in one of the Swedish papers today about him possibly riding for Smederna, but it also says: Will you be carrying on at both Ipswich and Gdansk in 2009? Very possible. I have been offered a contract from both clubs. From: www.ekuriren.se
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2008 11:31:08 GMT
Phew ;D
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2008 23:18:01 GMT
Taken from today's EADT: Emil Sajfutdinof nearly signed for the Ipswich Witches, but in the end had to say no due to Russian commitments, however I understand that IF he rides in BEL he will only ride for the Witches....or Poole....or Swindon.....or Lakeside.....or sorry couldn't resist Anyway seriously this was in today's paper: Simmons to manage Witches again in 2009 07 November 2008 | 11:44 ELVIN KING THE Ipswich Evening Star Witches speedway team will have Pete Simmons as team manager again in 2009.
Witches rider/manager Chris Louis confirmed this today when he said: “I have nothing but praise for Pete.
“It was a bit of a risk when we gave him the post last season, but he was brilliant and did a superb job.
“We let him get on with it, and there was no need to intervene. I am very pleased to have him back onboard next year and pleased to announce him as our first signing.
“Mike Smillie moved to the general manager's post and this also worked out well with Mike also doing a wonderful job.”
The make-up of the Witches 2009 team will be finalised after the Elite League promoters' annual conference in Spain that starts next Thursday.
So our first signing, and a very popular one too.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2008 23:32:03 GMT
And from today's Evening Star: Chris Louis' racing days may be over 08 November 2008 | 11:58 ELVIN KING IPSWICH Evening Star Witches speedway ace Chris Louis today admitted that his racing days may be over.
The 39-year-old has served the Witches brilliantly for 20 years, but he may have ridden his last race.
Louis suffered a broken upper arm in April and unless the injury makes rapid improvement over the next few weeks the former world number three and Witches stalwart is set to hang up his kevlars.
If he does call it a day it will be the end of an era at Foxhall Stadium.
But Louis revealed he plans to stay with the Elite League club whether riding or not.
“My arm has recovered from the operation to repair it, but it is taking time to heal,” said Louis. “Blood circulation around injury is reduced, which is delaying the recovery process.
“I have set myself a target of Christmas to make my decision, and if I decide not to ride in 2009 it will signal the end of my riding career. I will not ride again.
“But I will stay with Ipswich and there will be a shift around in the way the club is run.”
Louis' father John is the Witches promoter and has been since 1989. At the age of 67 he could well be looking to ease down his duties, and gradually handing over to his son would be his ideal scenario.
Louis junior is already the club's rider/manager and will be accompanying his father to next Thursday's British Speedway Promoters' Association annual conference in Spain.
Twice the victim of crashes that have not been of his doing - firstly in Poland resulting in a serious head injury, and then in Sweden resulting in a severe back injury - Louis has spent a lot of time on the sidelines in recent seasons.
And it is looking as though his third major knock, when again he was an innocent party this time in a meeting against Eastbourne at Foxhall, could prove too much to recover from.
He could well undergo a second operation on his arm, and it is increasingly unlikely that he will ride again.
Louis has given wonderful service to Ipswich and is due a second fully deserved testimonial, which if he does retire is pencilled in for next year.
Another Ipswich rider, Mark Loram, has received encouraging news with confirmation that the second operation he underwent on the thigh he broke in March 2007 was a complete success.
“This is great news, but they will not be taking the metalwork out until April,” said the Stowmarket-based 2000 world champion.
“And I have an appointment to see my original surgeon to find out why I am still experiencing pain from my knee.
“In a couple of months I will weigh everything up and make a decision on whether I can ride in 2009 or not.”
Doesn't really tell us anything new, just wait and see I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2008 10:33:50 GMT
Can't really see Mark being fit to ride for us at the start of the 2009 season, regardless of how successful his operation is - he has been out of the saddle for such a long time now and to dive straight back into Elite League racing could be a disaster for both him and the team (especially if his average isn't reduced).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2008 12:12:30 GMT
Taken from today's EADT:
Will Jarek return? 14 November 2008 | 09:00 MIKE BACON Happy with England -
but will Jarek return?
By Mike Bacon
UNDECIDED about 2009, but full of praise for the Evening Star Witches, Jarek Hampel will make his decision on his British future in the next few weeks.
The 26-year-old Pole, currently on a family holiday in Egypt, admitted England 2008 saw “a lot of good things happen” for him, in an Ipswich Witches side that qualified for the play-offs.
And he admits it is John Louis he will speak to first regarding his 2009 plans at an Ipswich club he has come to know as his English home.
“I am as yet undecided what exactly to do next season,” Hampel said.
“When I get home to Poland, I will think very hard about it and I will speak to John Louis straightaway.
“Of course I am thinking very much about riding in England and with the security Ipswich offer then Ipswich is the club I will talk to first.
“The road from Stansted to Ipswich is now easier for me and overall I really enjoyed my time in England. I was sorry to miss a couple of meetings, but only one was really my fault.”
Hampel however has missed out on a Grand Prix wild card in 2009, something he could have expected to get had not two Poles, Grzegorz Walasek and Sebastian Ulamek, grabbed two of the three places in the GP Challenge at the end of the season.
That meant four Polish riders were already in the series, a fifth one was never going to happen.
It must have been a big blow to Hampel, who could have almost been guaranteed one of the four wild card spots after his impressive showings when given an opportunity in the series and World Cup in 2008.
“Yes, it was disappointing of course it was,” Hampel, who has been enjoying plenty of diving in the Red Sea, added.
“But as soon as the two Polish guys got the final places, I knew I didn't have much chance, there was no way five Polish riders were going to be in the 15 riders guaranteed a place.”
Hampel has many supporters at Foxhall who would like to see him back in 2009, but much will depend on the points limit for next year and the decisions to come out of the BSPA annual conference.
Mike.bacon@archant.co.uk
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2008 11:01:15 GMT
Some good news for Badger:- IPSWICH have confirmed that popular reserve Chris Schramm remains in their plans despite his signing for a Premier League club this week. Schramm will return to the middle tier with nearby King's Lynn having ridden solely in the Elite League in 2008. But next season, the option for Elite clubs to share a reserve position between two Premier League riders (with starting averages of below eight) has returned. And Witches promoter John Louis, who says he has plenty of options to consider, has hinted that Schramm could be earmarked for one of those spots. He said: "We shall be looking at that. It would financially help someone like Chris, who has to be admired for taking the plunge and riding full-time in the top flight this year. "The points limit doesn't eliminate any of the riders we have in mind, and no-one who rode for us in 2008 can be discounted." The Witches do, to an extent, have to wait on the plans of other clubs for some of their possible team places, because Piotr Swiderski (Peterborough) and Rory Schlein (Coventry) both rode for them on loan last season. www.speedwayworld.tv
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2008 18:17:13 GMT
Some good news for Badger:- IPSWICH have confirmed that popular reserve Chris Schramm remains in their plans despite his signing for a Premier League club this week. Schramm will return to the middle tier with nearby King's Lynn having ridden solely in the Elite League in 2008. But next season, the option for Elite clubs to share a reserve position between two Premier League riders (with starting averages of below eight) has returned. And Witches promoter John Louis, who says he has plenty of options to consider, has hinted that Schramm could be earmarked for one of those spots. He said: "We shall be looking at that. It would financially help someone like Chris, who has to be admired for taking the plunge and riding full-time in the top flight this year. "The points limit doesn't eliminate any of the riders we have in mind, and no-one who rode for us in 2008 can be discounted." The Witches do, to an extent, have to wait on the plans of other clubs for some of their possible team places, because Piotr Swiderski (Peterborough) and Rory Schlein (Coventry) both rode for them on loan last season. www.speedwayworld.tvYep thanks Kev ;D, now for some news on Swidders please ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2008 12:14:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2008 16:31:30 GMT
Yippeedee dodah, yippeedea my oh my what a brilliant day......this is one happy Badger ;D ;D Even the news of Kanny And they are apparently in talks with Jarek ;D and Miskowiak
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2008 16:45:26 GMT
Yippeedee dodah, yippeedea my oh my what a brilliant day......this is one happy Badger ;D ;D Even the news of Kanny And they are apparently in talks with Jarek ;D and Miskowiak There has to be a down side to every thing doesn't there?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2008 19:13:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2008 20:36:23 GMT
The bullshit hasn't stopped flowing with the removal of LF you know Ipswich got permission in October to talk to Swidders, so what's changed between then and now....hmmmm , and as Kanny is our asset anyway. Listen for yourself what Chris Louis said on Radio Suffolk tonight about the signings: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p001kkl1/Drivetime_with_Stephen_Foster_02_12_2008/push the slider along to 1.38
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2008 22:53:19 GMT
Thanks for that Badger, it certainly sounds that from Chris' perspective permission was sought and given to talk to Piotr.
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