PURTON rider Darryl Ritchings has described his move to Ipswich Witches as ‘massive’ as he praises the new British berth in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old impressed in his first season back on the bike with Coventry Storm in the National League last campaign.

Now Ritchings, who made one guest appearance for Swindon last season, has earned the step up to the Premier League with the Suffolk side.

Ritchings has benefitted from the new rule brought in at British Speedway's AGM, where at Premier League level, every team must track a British rider who is eligible for the National League in the number seven berth, on a three-point average.

The Swindon asset has come a long way in a short time, having been put into a medically induced coma just 19 months ago after a horror crash at the Abbey Stadium.

“It is nice to finally get a chance in the Premier League,” Ritchings told the Adver.

“I feel like after everything that happened with Swindon last year, I have come back pretty good and the step up is going to be good for me.

“Chris Louis, when he was involved in Mildenhall, was interested in me a couple of years ago and he has always kept his eye out for me.

“To bring this three-point British rider into the Premier League is the best thing they have done in a long while.

“I’ve already started to sort my bikes out for the new season and it is just a case of training hard in the gym.

“To get a chance in the Premier League is a massive thing for me.”

Ritchings will line up with the likes of Lewis Kerr, who also suffered a potentially life-changing injury last season, James Sergeant and Danny King.