Chris Louis began his professional career in speedway in 1988 riding in the old National League, the then second tier of British Speedway. No-one one was really to know just how much this youngsters career was to take off, and now nearly 20 years later we would be looking back and celebrating one of the most consistent and successful careers in British Speedway.

Chris first came to prominence as the British Schoolboy Grasstrack Champion in 1982, that was his first ever major honour. By the time he was 18 he was following in his famous fathers footsteps and had elected to ride on the shale. John Louis was then the team manager at Hackney, and Chris proved any critics he had very wrong by attaining a highly impressive 8 point average and spent virtually the entire season at the tricky No 2 position partnering Andy Galvin, someone who he recalls (alongside his dad) as possibly the "biggest influence in my career." Little did anyone know that within 5 years Chris would be on the rostrum in a World Final.

Chris's time at Hackney however was brief. The following season John Louis and Mike Western moved to take over the promotion at Ipswich and with the Witches dropping a division from the British League to the National League Chris was able to begin his long association with his home town club. From 1989 to 1990 he was an up and coming talent, much in demand for individual bookings, and Ipswich became one of the strongest and most entertaining sides in the National League. Chris continued to show what a talent he was increasing his average to well over 9 points per meeting in 1989 and then up to over 10 the following season, of course 1990 will be remembered for another reason, Chris Louis as World U21 Champion. Chris's victory in Lvov, saw him finish ahead of a certain Tony Rickardsson, who finished third and would go on to be a six times world champion. On his victory lap Chris recalls having to ride on a Cossack stallion as the Soviet Union staged their first ever world final event. It also put paid in his mind to his failure to capture the title in 1989, when he finished second to former Cradley star Gert Handberg.

As the 90's dawned He continued to star for Ipswich, but at the same time was making a name for himself on the world stage. 1991 saw Chris represent his country in the World team Cup Finals an he repeated that feat in 1992. The following year Chris achieved his highest ever position in a one off World Final when he claimed third spot behind Sam Ermolenko and Hans Nielsen in Pocking Germany. Both Nielsen and Louis had finished on 11 points but Chris had to settle for the third spot, losing to Nielsen in the run off. In finishing third he had emulated his famous dad's achievement, "Tiger Louis" was World No 3 exactly 18 years earlier.

Chris continued to be one of the top domestic riders, cementing his position with a further World Final appearance in 1994, where he finished in 12th place. In the same year he was a World Team Finalist. The following year Speedway's World Championship was dramatically re-shaped and the Grand Prix Series was introduced. Chris attacked the competition with relish and in 1995 improved his world individual ranking to 7th, and finishing on the rostrum in the Polish GP, claiming third spot. The same year he won a silver medal in the Speedway World Cup competition, his highest award in an FIM event. Throughout the 90's Chris was skipper of the national side, as well as that of Ipswich. He represented his country in test matches, and as an individual in the SGP series. 1998 surely ranks as his one of his most successful years overall as the Ipswich dream team clinched the league treble and are reckoned to have been the finest ever side assembled in British Speedway. A side skippered by the home town boy Chris Louis. Also in 1998 Chris achieved his highest ever GP ranking claiming fifth spot and finishing on the rostrum as second in the Danish and Swedish GP's. He was also the National Champion, a feat he repeated 2 years later in 2000.

As all riders will recall, with the highs come some lows, none more so than 2001 and 2002. In both seasons Chris suffered serious injury, which threatened to end his career. In 2001 he suffered terrible head and neck injuries during a Polish league match. As a result he missed the remainder of the season, he returned in 2002 only to injure himself again, this time whilst riding in a Swedish League match. In 2002 Chris rode in just 10 league matches and achieved an average of 6.51, the lowest ever of his career.

He made a dramatic return to Speedway as a rider in 2004, having been forced to sit out the whole of the 2003 season, a season most Witches fans will do well to forget as their side finished bottom of the Elite League for the first time ever. On his return the Witches climbed the table and secured a play-off spot, and were KOC Finalists. his average in his comeback season was a highly impressive 8.29, a figure he has improved on in 2005. He received a recall to the GP series in 2004, just a one off as a wildcard for the British GP.

2005 saw Chris complete his 18th season in speedway, he was awarded a testimonial in 1997 and few will bet against him not being awarded a "double testimonial" in 2007. This next part of this feature is as yet unwritten as Chris will ride again in 2006.