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Down but not out, Coventry Bees' Jason Garrity speaks to Total Sport

A difficult start to their Elite League title bid for the Coventry Bees saw them suffer a stinging 55–35 defeat against Alun Rossiter’s Swindon Robins. Total Sport’s Ryan Walker was on hand to get the reaction of Coventry’s number two Jason Garrity.

Similarly to Swindon, Coventry have started their 2016 Speedway Elite League campaign with a defeat, and Garrity admits that his side just weren’t good enough against a strong Swindon outfit.

“Tonight was tough for us and it was made even tougher without our number one Krzysztof Kasprzak,” Garrity began.

“When we have him he always puts in an outstanding performance and really lifts the team but at the same time the rest of us haven’t performed as well as we should have,“ He added.

“Myself personally haven’t got off to the start that I wanted to and I think that’s been down to both me and my equipment but that’s just the way it is sometimes.”

After impressive performances riding at reserve for the Bees last season Garrity has been rewarded by being drafted in to the main body of the team racing in the number two position, however a difficult start to his racing year has seen some question whether he is ready for such a big role, but Garrity insists that the challenge isn’t too great for him.

“For me it’s not that the role is too big or that I have underestimated how hard it is to ride in the main body of the team,” Garrity stated.

“One of the problems I think is that I went abroad with the Great Britain team before the start of the season and that really seemed to tire out my engines and equipment.

“I didn’t give myself enough time to service any of it when I got back, but I’ve changed a few things now and I’m feeling a lot better on the bike and my performances are only going to get better," he said.

Scoring just five points on the night for the Coventry Bees, Garrity admits that his performance was below par. However with such a long season ahead the Manchester born rider is certain of an upturn in fortunes for the Midlands club.

“I probably could of scored a few more points tonight but I’m a man and I stay on my bike. I don’t go down easily.” Said Garrity.

“All I want to do is race and try to improve every day. It’s a big, long season and your first couple of meetings doesn’t define your year.

“I made a big step up going into the number two position but my aim is to be a heat leader so I will take any opportunity that comes my way," he added.