Witches suffer Hampel blow

Polish ace ruled out of double-header

Last updated: 23rd September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Witches suffer Hampel blow

Hampel: Ruled out Fotospeedway.pl

If I don't ride for Leszno there will be about 30,000 people in the town try to kill me.

Jarek Hampel
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Ipswich's hopes of claiming third place in the Sky Sports Elite League have been dealt a massive blow.

Polish star Jarek Hampel is needed for a domestic meeting in his homeland on Thursday, when The Witches complete their fixtures with a double-header against Poole and Coventry.

Ipswich, who are already guaranteed a play-off spot, could move into third with two victories - but the loss of Hampel is a big blow.

Hampel was quick to apologise to Ipswich fans for not being able to make the matches on Thursday.

"I can't do anything about it," Hampel told the Ipswich Evening Star.

"If I don't ride for Leszno there will be about 30,000 people in the town try to kill me.

"I'm a Polish rider and this is their big finals. I'm so sorry to the Ipswich fans, but the meeting was rained off on Sunday and Thursday was the only date they could make it. I have no alternative but to be in Poland. There are no options."

Helpless

Witches captain Chris Louis confirmed that Ipswich were helpless to prevent the situation.

"There is absolutely nothing we can do about it," Louis said.

"We can try and make Jarek ride, but firstly, and understandably, he won't, and secondly the repercussions for him in Poland would probably see him banned from riding for us again this season.

"It's a big shame and one of the pitfalls of having a mainly Polish team because the PZM have no agreement with the BSPA over this type of ruling. We have few options and we are doing all we can to see what we can do."

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