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Analysing Jason Doyle's start to Swindon Robins life
When Alun Rossiter announced that Jason Doyle was returning to ride in the red of Swindon Robins for the 2016 Elite League season, some were sceptical, some delighted and some had mixed feelings about the decision, writes Total Sport's Ryan Walker.
But few could have expected Doyle to be riding this well for the Robins as he enjoys the very best racing of his career so far.
Since his departure from Blunsdon in 2012, Doyle has made extraordinary leaps and bounds in a speedway career that seems to get better as the years go by.
Rewind just four years ago to that title-winning year of 2012 when Doyle was doubling up racing for Swindon in the Elite League and the Somerset Rebels in the Premier League and you will truly recognise just how far he has progressed in a relatively short time.
After an incredibly successful 2015 for Doyle, in which he achieved a career highlight of finishing fifth in the World Championship standings following an amazing debut year on the grand prix circuit, the decision for Alun Rossiter to bring Jason back to the Abbey meant that Swindon fans could once again cheer at the idea of having an out and out superstar number one spearheading the team.
So what can we make from the start that Jason has mad for the Swindon Robins in this years Elite League campaign?
Outstanding, sensational, amazing. Take your pick from any of those words as each justifiably describe the performances of our club captain this year.
Since the engines of the league roared into action back in March, Doyle’s performances have been special to say the least.
Scoring no less than 11 points in any of the eight fixtures he has rode for the Robins so far this season, Jason really is raising the bar for what to expect from a number one and is arguably the main driving force for our title charge this season.
However it isn’t only his performances on the bike that is making the Robins’ Australian ace stand out this year. The announcement that Jason would be leading the team out as captain for the 2016 season came as no surprise given the experience and undoubted talent he has on a speedway bike.
It’s great to see how well he has adapted to the role. In the pits, Doyle really is seen as someone to look up to by all the other riders, whether he is giving out racing advice to fellow riders on what racing lines to take or helping with individual bike setups, the world number five really is on top of his game.
It is refreshing to see a captain grabbing the role with both hands and putting maximum amount of effort into his duties, and thoughts are now with Doyle to recover as soon as possible from his recent Zielona Gora crash and lead by example once again.
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